The epithelial barrier theory and its associated diseases.

The prevalence of many chronic noncommunicable diseases has been steadily rising over the past six decades. During this time, over 350,000 new chemical substances have been introduced to the lives of humans. In recent years, the epithelial barrier theory came to light explaining the growing prevalence and exacerbations of these diseases worldwide.

Modulation of Bronchial Epithelial Barrier Integrity by Low Molecular Weight Components from Birch Pollen.

Pollen, in addition to allergens, comprise low molecular weight components (LMC) smaller than 3 kDa. Emerging evidence indicates the relevance of LMC in allergic immune responses. However, the interaction of birch pollen (BP)-derived LMC and epithelial cells has not been extensively studied.

Immunohistochemical detection of the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 protein in primary and metastatic melanoma.

Treatment of malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, continues to be a major challenge for clinicians. New targeted therapies with kinase inhibitors or drugs which modify the immune response are often accompanied by the development of resistance or severe side effects. In this context, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), a highly immunogenic melanoma tumor antigen, could be a potential target for alternative therapeutic approaches.

The History and Science of the Major Birch Pollen Allergen Bet v 1.

The term allergy was coined in 1906 by the Austrian scientist and pediatrician Clemens Freiherr von Pirquet. In 1976, Dietrich Kraft became the head of the Allergy and Immunology Research Group at the Department of General and Experimental Pathology of the University of Vienna. In 1983, Kraft proposed to replace natural extracts used in allergy diagnostic tests and vaccines with recombinant allergen molecules and persuaded Michael Breitenbach to contribute his expertise in molecular cloning as one of the mentors of this project.

Identification of probable pectinesterase as a major allergen of pollen of the Asian white birch (Betula platyphylla) in northern China.

Background: Pollen of the Asian white birch (Betula platyphylla) is a major source of allergens in spring in northern China, yet little research on its pollen allergens has been done so far.

Objective: To analyze the B. platyphylla pollen allergen profile of patients from northern China and to identify the major pollen allergens in this patient cohort.

EAACI Molecular Allergology User's Guide 2.0.

Since the discovery of immunoglobulin E (IgE) as a mediator of allergic diseases in 1967, our knowledge about the immunological mechanisms of IgE-mediated allergies has remarkably increased. In addition to understanding the immune response and clinical symptoms, allergy diagnosis and management depend strongly on the precise identification of the elicitors of the IgE-mediated allergic reaction. In the past four decades, innovations in bioscience and technology have facilitated the identification and production of well-defined, highly pure molecules for component-resolved diagnosis (CRD), allowing a personalized diagnosis and management of the allergic disease for individual patients.

Peanut lipids influence the response of bronchial epithelial cells to the peanut allergens Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 by decreasing barrier permeability.

Peanut-allergic individuals react upon their first known ingestion of peanuts, suggesting sensitization occurs through non-oral exposure. Increasing evidence suggests that the respiratory tract is a probable site for sensitization to environmental peanuts. However, the response of the bronchial epithelium to peanut allergens has never been explored.

Cosensitization to the 3 Nonhomologous Major Cashew Allergens Ana o 1, Ana o 2, and Ana o 3 Is Caused by IgE Cross-reactivity.

Background: Cashew nuts often cause strong allergic reactions, which are even more severe than those of peanuts. Ana o 1 (vicilin), Ana o 2 (legumin), and Ana o 3 (2S albumin) are major cashew allergens. Cosensitization to all 3 nonhomologous cashew nut allergens has been observed.

Identification of Potentially Tolerated Fish Species by Multiplex IgE Testing of a Multinational Fish-Allergic Patient Cohort.

Background: Although recent studies indicated that many fish-allergic patients may safely consume certain fish species, no clinical guidelines are available for identification of the exact species tolerated by specific patients.

Objective: To investigate whether multiplex immunoglobulin E (IgE) testing reveals potentially tolerated fish through absence of IgE to parvalbumin (PV) and extracts from specific species.

Methods: Sera from 263 clinically well-defined fish-allergic patients from Austria, China, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Spain were used in a research version of the ALEX multiplex IgE quantification assay.

Pru du 1, the Bet 1-homologue from almond, is a major allergen in patients with birch pollen associated almond allergy.

Background: Almond allergy is common and can manifest in two different forms. Primary almond allergy has been reported to be associated with sensitization to almond legumin Pru du 6. In birchendemic regions, there is a link between birch-pollinosis which is likely based on a cross-reactive Bet v 1 homologue, a yet unidentified allergen in almond.

Corrigendum: Fish Allergy Around the World-Precise Diagnosis to Facilitate Patient Management.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.

Fish Allergy Around the World-Precise Diagnosis to Facilitate Patient Management.

The accurate and precise diagnosis of IgE-mediated fish allergy is one of the biggest challenges in allergy diagnostics. A wide range of fish species that belong to evolutionary distant classes are consumed globally. Moreover, each fish species may contain multiple isoforms of a given allergen that often differ in their allergenicity.

Tracing Human IgE B Cell Antigen Receptor-Bearing Cells With a Monoclonal Anti-Human IgE Antibody That Specifically Recognizes Non-Receptor-Bound IgE.

Up to 30% of the population suffers from immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies. Despite current stepwise gating approaches, the unambiguous identification of human IgE-producing cells by flow cytometry and immunohistology remains challenging. This is mainly due to the scarcity of these cells and the fact that IgE is not only expressed in a membrane-bound form on the surface of IgE-producing cells in form of the B cell antigen receptor (BCR), but is more frequently found on various cell types bound to the low and high affinity receptors, CD23 and FcϵRI, respectively.

Isotype-specific binding patterns of serum antibodies to multiple conformational epitopes of Bet v 1.

Background: Birch pollen is an important elicitor of respiratory allergy. The major allergen, Bet v 1, binds IgE exclusively via conformational epitopes.

Objective: We identified Bet v 1-specific epitope repertoires of IgE and IgG from birch pollen-allergic and nonallergic subjects.

The Major Peanut Allergen Ara h 2 Produced in Contains Hydroxyprolines and Is a Viable Alternative to the Product in Allergy Diagnosis.

Peanut allergy is a potentially life-threatening disease that is mediated by allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. The major peanut allergen Ara h 2, a 2S albumin seed storage protein, is one of the most dangerous and potent plant allergens. Ara h 2 is posttranslationally modified to harbor four disulfide bridges and three hydroxyprolines.

Identification of vicilin, legumin and antimicrobial peptide 2a as macadamia nut allergens.

Macadamia nut is an increasingly popular food item of a healthy diet. However, macadamia nut is also a potent allergenic food. To date, there is little information about the allergenic proteins involved.

A chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4‑specific monoclonal antibody inhibits melanoma cell invasion in a spheroid model.

The overexpression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4) is associated with several tumor types, including malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, triple‑negative breast carcinoma, oligodendrocytomas or gliomas. Due to its restricted distribution in normal tissues, CSPG4 has been considered a potential target for several antitumor approaches, including monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies. The aim of the present study was to characterize the impact of the CSPG4‑specific mAb clone 9.

Newly defined allergens in the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Database during 01/2019-03/2021.

The WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Database (http://allergen.org) provides up-to-date expert-reviewed data on newly discovered allergens and their unambiguous nomenclature to allergen researchers worldwide. This review discusses the 106 allergens that were accepted by the Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee between 01/2019 and 03/2021.

Allergens and their associated small molecule ligands-their dual role in sensitization.

Many allergens feature hydrophobic cavities that allow the binding of primarily hydrophobic small-molecule ligands. Ligand-binding specificities can be strict or promiscuous. Serum albumins from mammals and birds can assume multiple conformations that facilitate the binding of a broad spectrum of compounds.

Vaccines and allergic reactions: The past, the current COVID-19 pandemic, and future perspectives.

Vaccines are essential public health tools with a favorable safety profile and prophylactic effectiveness that have historically played significant roles in reducing infectious disease burden in populations, when the majority of individuals are vaccinated. The COVID-19 vaccines are expected to have similar positive impacts on health across the globe. While serious allergic reactions to vaccines are rare, their underlying mechanisms and implications for clinical management should be considered to provide individuals with the safest care possible.