Maternal allergen-specific IgG might protect the child against allergic sensitization.

Background: Analysis of allergen-specific IgE responses in birth cohorts with microarrayed allergens has provided detailed information regarding the evolution of specific IgE responses in children. High-resolution data regarding early development of allergen-specific IgG are needed.

Objective: We sought to analyze IgG reactivity to microarrayed allergens in mothers during pregnancy, in cord blood samples, in breast milk, and in infants in the first years of life with the aim to investigate whether maternal allergen-specific IgG can protect against IgE sensitization in the offspring.

Food allergies: the basics.

IgE-associated food allergy affects approximately 3% of the population and has severe effects on the daily life of patients-manifestations occur not only in the gastrointestinal tract but also affect other organ systems. Birth cohort studies have shown that allergic sensitization to food allergens develops early in childhood. Mechanisms of pathogenesis include cross-linking of mast cell- and basophil-bound IgE and immediate release of inflammatory mediators, as well as late-phase and chronic allergic inflammation, resulting from T-cell, basophil, and eosinophil activation.

Development of a surface display ELISA to detect anti-IgG antibodies against bovine αS1-casein in human sera.

The aim of the present study was to develop a surface display ELISA (SD-ELISA) for IgG-serum reaction against bovine casein αS1 (CSN1S1). In a SD-ELISA, the antigen is displayed on the surface of Escherichia coli using the autodisplay technology and whole cells of E. coli are used to coat the microplates for serum testing.

Cow's milk allergy: from allergens to new forms of diagnosis, therapy and prevention.

The first adverse reactions to cow's milk were already described 2,000 years ago. However, it was only 50 years ago that several groups started with the analysis of cow's milk allergens. Meanwhile the spectrum of allergy eliciting proteins within cow's milk is identified and several cow's milk allergens have been characterized regarding their biochemical properties, fold and IgE binding epitopes.

Visualization of clustered IgE epitopes on alpha-lactalbumin.

Background: alpha-Lactalbumin (alpha-La) is a major cow's milk (CM) allergen responsible for allergic reactions in infants.

Objective: We performed molecular, structural, and immunologic characterization of alpha-La.

Methods: Recombinant alpha-lactalbumin (ralpha-La) was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity, and characterized by means of mass spectrometry and circular dichroism, and its allergenic activity was studied by using microarray technology, as well as in a basophil histamine release assay.

Cloning, expression, and mapping of allergenic determinants of alphaS1-casein, a major cow's milk allergen.

Milk is one of the first components introduced into human diet. It also represents one of the first allergen sources, which induces IgE-mediated allergies in childhood ranging from gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory manifestations to severe life-threatening manifestations, such as anaphylaxis. Here we isolated a cDNA coding for a major cow's milk allergen, alphaS1-casein, from a bovine mammary gland cDNA library with allergic patients' IgE Abs.