The Mold Gene: HLA-DRB1

A close-up photograph of mold growth with text overlay spelling "MOLD" against a background showing various colored mold colonies in yellow and dark spots

What is the HLA-DRB1 gene? Can your genes make you sick from mold?

I am a strong believer in epigenetics.

Epigenetics is the scientifically proven theory that your genes do not determine your health, but your environment is what determines whether a disease-causing gene will express itself.

For example, because your mom had breast cancer, it does not mean that you are destined for breast cancer.

If you eat no fruits and vegetables, live a high-stress lifestyle, use all plastic containers, drink from plastic water bottles, and don’t ever exercise – then you will be switching on your predisposition to breast cancer.

Environmental Factors Are:

Development in utero and childhood
Internal dialogue/thoughts you think on a daily basis
What foods do you eat?
Environmental chemicals that you are exposed to
Drugs and medications that you take
Methylation has been strongly linked to being able to activate or repress a gene. Methylation is part of phase 2 of liver detox, where you utilize B vitamins and Folate to pull toxins out of your body so that you can excrete them. If you have a genetic weakness (such as the MTHFR) in that pathway of methylation, then you need to take methylated B vitamins to assist your body in detoxification and energy production.

Genetics are like a loaded gun, and the environment is what pulls the trigger. If you maintain a healthy environment, the trigger never gets pulled.

What Is The HLA-BRB1 Gene?

The HLA-DRB1 gene provides instructions for making a protein that plays an important role in how the immune system functions.

The HLA-DRB1 gene is part of a family of genes called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex. The HLA complex helps the immune system distinguish the body’s own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria.

In approximately 24% of the population, there is a mutation in this gene that causes even the smallest exposure to a biotoxin to wreak absolute havoc on a person’s immune system.

These people cannot handle the environmental exposure to mold, and they switch on the faulty gene & express symptoms rather quickly.

What This Means For You

There are multiple kinds of variations in this gene, and based on which one you have, it can express itself in the following ways:

Mild susceptibility to extreme susceptibility to being sick from mold exposure
More likelihood of contracting Chronic Lyme Disease/inability to fight it off
Susceptibility to being sick from ingesting Dinoflagellates (fish)
MARCoNS (A nasty nasal infection/sinusitis)
Low MSH
Developing Multiple Sclerosis
Developing Chronic Fatigue
Developing Chronic Fatigue from Lyme vaccine Lymerix – It will cause an inflammatory immune response in certain genotypes. In another genotype, it worked well.
There are MAJOR contraindications from the Gardasil Vaccine for cervical cancers, and they should be avoided based on what variation of this gene you have.

If you already have one or more of these conditions, you definitely need to do the genetic test to find out what is going on inside your body on a cellular level and then take further steps to rid your body of these toxins and boost your immune system.

How To Test If You Have The Genetic Mutation In This Gene?

It is a simple blood test that you can have your doctor do.

A lot of times, doctors will say you don’t need it, or they will not do it because they adhere to what the insurance companies deem appropriate to test for, which is wrong!

Your doctor works for YOU. If you want a test done, you should be able to have it done. Individual insurance will vary, so it’s best to call them and ask them if that is something you can do through insurance.

If you do not have insurance or do not want to use insurance, you can always go through a Professional Co-op.

They offer significantly discounted prices for lab testing. Life-Extension is another lab that does this test, but Professional Co-op is less expensive. Functional Medicine Practitioners will more than likely do this test for you.

What You Can Do To Detox Mold & Bio-toxins From Your Body?

1. Activated Charcoal:

This acts as a sponge and soaks up everything, allowing you to excrete toxins out through the bowels.

One study looked at subjects who were fed deoxynivalenol (which is a mycotoxin that occurs in grains) and then given activated charcoal.

The results were that after ingestion of charcoal, no mycotoxin could be detected in the blood.

A bowl filled with dark-colored activated charcoal capsules on a white surfac

2. N-Acetyl Cysteine & Glutathione:

NAC is an amino acid that converts into the master antioxidant Glutathione. Glutathione has a short half-life, so if you can do both at the same time, it will increase the circulation in your body longer.

This combo is very useful in binding heavy metals, candida, and toxins and detoxing the liver.

In one case study of a woman who accidentally ingested toxic mushroom, she was treated with activated charcoal, NAC and after only 10 days she was healed and had no organ complications.

3. Chlorella:

This is a green algae that has been shown to cleanse your intestines, bind to mold toxins and heavy metals, and eliminate them through the bowels.

It also cleanses the liver and the blood. Clean blood assures that metabolic waste will get carried away from your tissues. Chlorella also allows your body to process more oxygen (which lowers cancer risk).

Studies conducted in Japan have evidenced that chlorella may also help reduce body fat and help with weight-related diabetes, lower cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Another 3-year study conducted with 350 people who worked in a metal facility was given chlorella to remove very toxic heavy metals: Mercury, Antimony, Lead, Cadmium, and Arsenic.

The results showed those who took chlorella had removed ALL heavy metal completely.

Note: Chlorella contains iron, so it is important for men to have their iron and ferritin levels checked. Women have their periods, so it usually is not an issue for them.

A glass of green chlorella juice next to a pile of dark green powder supplement on a white surface.

4. Cilantro:

Cilantro is a green herb that also has a detoxification effect. It works with mold toxins and heavy metals.

As Dr. Mercola states, “You should always start any detox with chlorella gradually, taking just a small amount at first to see how your body tolerates this powerful detoxification tool.

Some people also report benefits from beginning a detoxification by first eating small amounts of cilantro for a few days.

Cilantro also promotes a detoxification response in your body, but at a less intense level — which may help ease your body into a smoother detoxification response from chlorella.”

A fresh sprig of cilantro with bright green leaves photographed against a white background

5. Exercise & Drink Water:

Toxins normally are sequestered in body fat. One of the best ways to remove stored toxins is to exercise!

But also be sure to drink plenty of water. When you lose weight and don’t drink enough water, it will cause your toxins to flood the body because now there is less space for them to be stored and more toxins all at once.

It is VERY important that you drink at least half your body weight in ounces of pure water every day (especially if you are detoxing).