Ep. 212 Allergy Immunotherapy and the Microbiome with Dr. Jennifer Villwock

Could the key to more effective allergy therapies lie in the nasal microbiome? In this episode of BackTable ENT, Dr. Jennifer Villwock from Kansas University Medical Center discusses the intricacies of treating allergies and sinus issues with hosts Dr. Ashley Agan and Dr. Gopi Shah. --- SYNPOSIS Dr. Villwock begins by highlighting the importance of personalized medicine and the role of the microbiome in immunotherapy. Topics include topical and oral probiotics, the nasal microbiome, intralymphatic immunotherapy, and the significance of accurate allergy testing. Dr. Villwock also shares insights on sublingual and subcutaneous immunotherapy, the future of allergy treatments, and the impact of environmental factors on sinus health. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 01:53 - Understanding the Sinus Microbiome 04:34 - The Role of the Microbiome in Health 09:31 - Challenges in Microbiome Research 23:21 - Clinical Decision-Making in Antibiotic Use 25:07 - Exploring Probiotics & Dietary Factors for Sinus Health 30:12 - Immunotherapy and Microbiome 35:47 - Allergy Testing Methods 41:40 - Future Directions in Immunotherapy 44:18 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts --- RESOURCES Jennifer Villwock Profile https://www.kumc.edu/jvillwock.html AAOA 2025 Explorers Course in Allergy and Immunology, Vail, CO. March 27-29, 2025 https://www.aaoallergy.org/education/aaoa-explorers-course-2025/ BackTable+ for ENT https://plus.backtable.com/pages/ent Check out BackTable+ for ENT, our sponsor and new e-learning platform! https://plus.backtable.com/pages/ent