Associations between the indoor microbiome, environmental characteristics and respiratory infections in junior high school students of Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Pathogens are commonly present in the human respiratory tract, but symptoms are varied among individuals. The interactions between pathogens, commensal microorganisms and host immune systems are important in shaping the susceptibility, development and severity of respiratory diseases. Compared to the extensive studies on the human microbiota, few studies reported the association between indoor microbiome exposure and respiratory infections.

Indoor microbiome, environmental characteristics and asthma among junior high school students in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Indoor microbial diversity and composition are suggested to affect the prevalence and severity of asthma by previous home microbiome studies, but no microbiome-health association study has been conducted in a school environment, especially in tropical countries. In this study, we collected floor dust and environmental characteristics from 21 classrooms, and health data related to asthma symptoms from 309 students, in junior high schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The bacterial and fungal composition was characterized by sequencing 16s rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, and the absolute microbial concentration was quantified by qPCR.

High correlation of specific IgE sensitization between birch pollen, soy and apple allergens indicates pollen-food allergy syndrome among birch pollen allergic patients in northern China.

Background: Birch pollen sensitization and associated pollen-food syndrome among Chinese allergic patients have not been investigated.

Methods: Sera from 203 allergic patients from the northern part of China and collected during February to July 2014 were investigated. Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) against birch pollen extract Bet v and major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 were measured using the ADVIA Centaur.

The Functional IgE-Blocking Factor Induced by Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy Correlates with IgG4 Antibodies and a Decrease of Symptoms in House Dust Mite-Allergic Children.

Background: At present, there are no validated biomarkers reflecting or predicting the clinical efficacy of allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) . We aimed to investigate the correlations between clinical and immunological responses of patients undergoing house dust mite (HDM) AIT.

Methods: Sixty-nine children diagnosed with HDM allergic rhinitis and/or asthma received standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) subcutaneous AIT for 12 months.

Endotoxin, ergosterol, fungal DNA and allergens in dust from schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia- associations with asthma and respiratory infections in pupils.

There are few studies on associations between respiratory health and allergens, fungal and bacterial compounds in schools in tropical countries. The aim was to study associations between respiratory symptoms in pupils and ethnicity, chemical microbial markers, allergens and fungal DNA in settled dust in schools in Malaysia. Totally 462 pupils (96%) from 8 randomly selected secondary schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, participated.

Prevalence of sensitization to weed pollens of Humulus scandens, Artemisia vulgaris, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia in northern China.

Objective: Weed pollens are common sources of allergens worldwide. The prevalence of weed pollen sensitization is not yet fully known in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sensitization to weed allergens from Artemisia, Ambrosia, and Humulus in northern China.

House dust mite and storage mite IgE reactivity in allergic patients from Guangzhou, China.

Background: In China, house dust mites are important inducers of allergic disease. The importance of allergens from storage mites is less well known.

Objective: The aim of this study is to access the prevalence of house dust mite and storage mite sensitization and investigate the IgE crossreactivity between house dust mite and storage mite.

Specific IgG4 production during house dust mite immunotherapy among age, gender and allergic disease populations.

Background: Specific IgG4 induced by allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is an immunological marker related to the appearance of clinical tolerance. But specific IgG4 levels in different age, gender and allergic disease populations have not been fully investigated.

Methods: This study involved 226 children and 109 adults with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma receiving a 156-week course of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) subcutaneous SIT.

Indoor mite allergen levels, specific IgE prevalence and IgE cross-inhibition pattern among asthmatic children in Haikou, southern China.

Background: Haikou locates in tropical island with unique mite propagation. The aim of this stuy is to determine mite allergens levels in Haikou, and to investigate the prevalence of mite specific IgE-sensitization and IgE cross-reactivity between house dust mites.

Methods: Allergen and antigen concentrations against six mite species were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Factors associated with allergen sensitizations in patients with asthma and/or rhinitis in China.

Background: Allergen sensitization is influenced by genetic and environmental factors; however, the factors related to sensitizations in patients with rhinitis and asthma in China are largely unknown. This study investigated the factors associated with allergen sensitizations in patients with asthma and rhinitis in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in 6304 patients with asthma and/or rhinitis from four regions of China.

Allergen micro-array detection of specific IgE-reactivity in Chinese allergy patients.

Background: Allergen micro-arrays are powerful tools for screening of serum IgE-reactivity. In this study allergen micro-arrays were used to identify dominating IgE-binding allergens and cross-reactivity patterns among selected Chinese allergy patients.

Methods: The study was conducted using patient sera from the cities of Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu and Shenyang.

Prevalence of sensitivity to cockroach allergens and IgE cross-reactivity between cockroach and house dust mite allergens in Chinese patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Background: Cockroaches are an important indoor allergen source causing allergic rhinitis and asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the cockroach prevalence in mainland of China and the cross-reactivity of IgE between cockroach and house dust mite allergen in Chinese patients.

Methods: The cockroach sensitization pattern was based on a skin prick test (SPT) obtained from a national multicenter prevalence study, in which 6304 patients from 25 allergy centers across China participated.

Influence of degree of specific allergic sensitivity on severity of rhinitis and asthma in Chinese allergic patients.

Background: The association between sensitizations and severity of allergic diseases is controversial.

Objective: This study was to investigate the association between severity of asthma and rhinitis and degree of specific allergic sensitization in allergic patients in China.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was performed in 6304 patients with asthma and/or rhinitis from 4 regions of China.

Epitope grafting, re-creating a conformational Bet v 1 antibody epitope on the surface of the homologous apple allergen Mal d 1.

Birch-allergic patients often experience oral allergy syndrome upon ingestion of vegetables and fruits, most prominently apple, that is caused by antibody cross-reactivity of the IgE antibodies in patients to proteins sharing molecular surface structures with the major birch pollen group 1 allergen from Betula verrucosa (Bet v 1). Still, to what extent two molecular surfaces need to be similar for clinically relevant antibody cross-reactivity to occur is unknown. Here, we describe the grafting of a defined conformational antibody epitope from Bet v 1 onto the surface of the homologous apple allergen Malus domestica group 1 (Mal d 1).

The specific IgE reactivity pattern of weed pollen-induced allergic rhinitis patients.

Conclusion: Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity towards the major mugwort allergen Art v 1 is a good indicator for Art v sensitization. Allergens from the ragweed species Amb t and Amb a possibly share common IgE-binding epitopes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the reactivity pattern of IgE in Chinese patients with weed pollen-induced allergic rhinitis.

[Sequence polymorphism of major house dust mite allergens].

Objective: To determine the sequence variation of the groups 1 and 2 allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae in different geographical regions.

Methods: RNAs were isolated from the whole bodies, eggs and entire culture of mites (D. farinae) from South China and European commercialized D.

Allergens as eukaryotic proteins lacking bacterial homologues.

Only a small number of protein homologues cause the majority of allergies. There is no consensus structure or other obvious common denominator discriminating the few proteins that are allergens from thousands of other, non-allergenic proteins. By database sequence homology searching, we here show that to date known allergen sequences have no or few bacterial homologues, in contrast to randomly selected control protein sequences.

Standardization of allergen-specific immunotherapy vaccines.

In the 1970s and 1980s, scientific methods were introduced in the standardization of allergen vaccines and, in combination with improved documentation of the clinical benefits obtained using standardized vaccines, specific allergy treatment as a scientifically based, reproducible, and safe treatment for allergic disease was established. This article describes important issues in the control of source materials and vaccine preparation as part of the European standardization of allergen vaccines, and also includes a discussion of vaccines that are based on recombinant allergens, which may appear on the market in the near future.

Structure of recombinant Ves v 2 at 2.0 Angstrom resolution: structural analysis of an allergenic hyaluronidase from wasp venom.

Wasp venom from Vespula vulgaris contains three major allergens: Ves v 1, Ves v 2 and Ves v 5. Here, the cloning, expression, biochemical characterization and crystal structure determination of the hyaluronidase Ves v 2 from family 56 of the glycoside hydrolases are reported. The allergen was expressed in Escherichia coli as an insoluble protein and refolded and purified to obtain full enzymatic activity.

Prevention of allergy by a recombinant multi-allergen vaccine with reduced IgE binding and preserved T cell epitopes.

Novel approaches for the prevention of allergy are required, because of the inevitably increasing prevalence of allergic diseases during the last 30 years. Here, a recombinant chimeric protein, which comprises the whole amino acid sequences of three bee venom major allergens has been engineered and used in prevention of bee venom sensitization in mice. Phospholipase A2 (Api m 1), hyaluronidase (Api m 2) and melittin (Api m 3) fragments with overlapping amino acids were assembled in a different order in the Api m (1/2/3) chimeric protein, which preserved entire T cell epitopes, whereas B cell epitopes of all three allergens were abrogated.

The crystal structure of recombinant proDer p 1, a major house dust mite proteolytic allergen.

Allergy to house dust mite is among the most prevalent allergic diseases worldwide. Most house dust mite allergic patients react to Der p 1 from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, which is a cysteine protease. To avoid heterogeneity in the sample used for crystallization, a modified recombinant molecule was produced.

Molecular characterization of major cat allergen Fel d 1: expression of heterodimer by use of a baculovirus expression system.

Fel d 1 is a major cat allergen inducing allergic rhinitis and asthma in sensitized individuals. It has a more complex structure when compared with other allergens and therefore expression of recombinant Fel d 1 has been considered a challenge. The present study shows for the first time that a Baculovirus expression system is able to produce an intact rFel d 1 molecule that is glycosylated and structurally equivalent to the natural cat allergen, nFel d 1.

Allergy vaccine engineering: epitope modulation of recombinant Bet v 1 reduces IgE binding but retains protein folding pattern for induction of protective blocking-antibody responses.

Human type 1 immediate allergic response symptoms are caused by mediator release from basophils and mast cells. This event is triggered by allergens aggregating preformed IgE Abs bound to the high-affinity receptor (FcepsilonRI) on these cells. Thus, the allergen/IgE interaction is crucial for the cascade leading to the allergic and anaphylactic response.