A study by the University of California , San Francisco and published in June 2012 in the American Society for Microbiology, is “the first step towards determining the identity of the microbial species which confer protection against [a] respiratory pathogen [associated with the development of asthma]. Such information could lead to development of microbial-based therapies to protect against this infectious agent and, putatively, reduce the risk of childhood asthma development.” To read an article about the study, click here.