Optimization of the diagnosis and characterization of gibberellin-regulated protein sensitization: An Italian cohort study.

Background: Pru p 7 was the first gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP) to be identified as a food allergen as the basis of a pollen food allergy syndrome.

Objective: To clinically and biologically characterize a group of patients with suspected allergy to Pru p 7 to optimize the diagnostic workup of GRP sensitization.

Methods: Allergy to Pru p 7 was suspected in the presence of a systemic allergic reaction to plant food, positive skin prick test results for cypress pollen and lipid-transfer protein-enriched peach extract, and absence of Pru p 3-specific immunoglobulin E.

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.

Allergy: Involvement of Cap a 7, a New Clinically Relevant Gibberellin-Regulated Protein Cross-Reactive With Cry j 7, the Gibberellin-Regulated Protein From Japanese Cedar Pollen.

The genus belongs to the Solanaceae family. Bell or chili peppers are consumed worldwide, but allergy to is rare. It is involved in the celery-birch-mugwort-spice syndrome and cross-reactivities were reported with latex.

Biochemical composition of Phleum pratense pollen grains: A review.

The Poaceae family is composed of 12,000 plant species. Some of these species produce highly allergenic anemophilous pollen grains (PGs). Phleum pratense pollen grains (PPPGs) emerged as a model for studies related to grass allergy.

Two Different Composite Markers Predict Severity and Threshold Dose in Peanut Allergy.

Background: Safe and cost-effective biological surrogate markers to evaluate the severity and threshold dose of peanut allergy (PA) reactions during an oral food challenge (OFC) are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate biological markers associated with the severity and threshold dose of an allergic reaction during an OFC in a population of children with PA.

Methods: Demographic and biological parameters of children with peanut OFC and basophil activation test (BAT) results were collected.

Update on pollen-food allergy syndrome.

Introduction: Allergies affect 20-30% of the population and respiratory allergies are mostly due to pollen grains from anemophilous plants. One to 5% of people suffer from food allergies and clinicians report increasing numbers of pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS), such that the symptoms have broadened from respiratory to gastrointestinal, and even to anaphylactic shock in the presence of cofactors. Thirty to 60% of food allergies are associated with pollen allergy while the percentage of pollen allergies associated to food allergy varies according to local environment and dietary habits.

Streamlining basophil activation testing to enable assay miniaturization and automation of sample preparation.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated the capabilities of the basophil activation test (BAT) but various parameters such as a lack of standardization and a time consuming and labor intensive workflow continue to hinder the field to fully leverage the capabilities of this technique. When pediatric patients have to be considered, an additional limitation is related to blood volume consumption.

Objectives: This work aimed at developing and characterizing a simplified and standardized whole-blood based BAT prototype procedure and at further assessing the feasibility of automating and miniaturizing the developed assay into a 96 well plate format.

Pollen/Fruit Syndrome: Clinical Relevance of the Cypress Pollen Allergenic Gibberellin-Regulated Protein.

A pollen/food-associated syndrome (PFAS) has been described between peach and cypress pollen. Cross-reactive allergens were characterized which belong to the Gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP) family, BP14 in cypress pollen and Pru p 7 in peach. GRP are small cationic protein with anti-microbial properties.

The Use of Combinatorial Hexapeptide Ligand Library (CPLL) in Allergomics.

The recent progress of proteomic protocols led to more efficient protein extraction and concentration procedures to remove nonprotein interfering compounds present in the starting material and to increase the concentration of underrepresented proteins. Combinatorial hexapeptide ligand libraries (CPLL) were recently applied to both plant- and animal-derived tissues for capturing the low- and very low-abundance allergens. Several IgE-binding proteins which were previously absent or poorly represented by using conventional proteomics tools have been detected and characterized through a CPLL-based approach.

Double One-Dimensional Electrophoresis (D1-DE) Adapted for Immunoproteomics.

The classical proteomics approach for the identification of allergen candidates consists on the separation of proteins by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) with subsequent IgE immunoblotting and further analysis of IgE-reactive protein spots with mass spectrometry. In this approach at least two gels most be run. One gel is used for staining and the other is for immunoblotting by antibodies labeled with specific immunostains.

Cypress Pollinosis: from Tree to Clinic.

Cypress (Cupressus sp.pl) is a genus within the Cupressaceae family. This family covers all of the Earth's continents except for Antarctica, and it includes about 160 species.

Urtica dioica pollen allergy: Clinical, biological, and allergomics analysis.

Background: The most emblematic members of Urticaceae at allergic risk level are wall pellitories (Parietaria), whereas nettle (Urtica) pollen is considered as poorly allergenic. No allergen from nettle pollen has yet been characterized, whereas 4 are listed for Parietaria pollen by the International Union of Immunological Societies. Clinical and biological profiles of 2 adult men who developed symptoms against nettle pollen and/or leaves were studied.

Immune Aspects of Female Infertility.

Immune infertility, in terms of reproductive failure, has become a serious health issue involving approximately 1 out of 5 couples at reproductive age. Semen that is defined as a complex fluid containing sperm, cellular vesicles and other cells and components, could sensitize the female genital tract. The immune rejection of male semen in the female reproductive tract is explained as the failure of natural tolerance leading to local and/or systemic immune response.

A Review of the Effects of Major Atmospheric Pollutants on Pollen Grains, Pollen Content, and Allergenicity.

This review summarizes the available data related to the effects of air pollution on pollen grains from different plant species. Several studies carried out either on in situ harvested pollen or on pollen exposed in different places more or less polluted are presented and discussed. The different experimental procedures used to monitor the impact of pollution on pollen grains and on various produced external or internal subparticles are listed.

[Immunoproteomics of non water-soluble allergens from 4 legumes flours: peanut, soybean, sesame and lentil].

Peanut, soybean, sesame and lentil are members of legumes worldwide consumed by human that can induce food allergy in genetically predisposed individuals. Several protein allergens, mainly water-soluble, have been described. We studied the non water-soluble fraction from these 4 food sources using immunoproteomics tools and techniques.

Basophils are inept at promoting human Th17 responses.

Basophils are the rare granulocytes and play an important role in the polarization of Th2 responses and protection against helminth parasites. In addition, basophils contribute to the pathogenesis of several diseases such as asthma, chronic allergy and lupus. Notably, Th17 cells are also implicated in the pathogenesis of these diseases suggesting that basophils support the activation and expansion of this subset of CD4(+) T cells.

High IgE sensitization to maize and rice pollen in the highlands of Madagascar.

Introduction: Maize and rice are two crops constituting the main food supply in many under-developed and developing countries. Despite the large area devoted to the culture, the sensitization to the pollen from these plants is reported to be low and often considered as an occupational allergy.

Methods: Sixty five Malagasy pollen allergic patients were clinically and immunochemically investigated with regard to maize and rice pollen allergens.

Circulating human basophils lack the features of professional antigen presenting cells.

Recent reports in mice demonstrate that basophils function as antigen presenting cells (APC). They express MHC class II and co-stimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86, capture and present soluble antigens or IgE-antigen complexes and polarize Th2 responses. Therefore, we explored whether human circulating basophils possess the features of professional APC.

Allergomic study of cypress pollen via combinatorial peptide ligand libraries.

Although Cupressus sempervirens (Cups) pollen represents one of the main aeroallergens in southern Europe, only two Cups allergens have yet been identified and reported: Cup s 1 and Cup s 3. The aim of this study was to identify allergens in cypress pollen using an immuno-proteomic approach. A sequential pollen protein extraction was developed and supplemented by a combinatorial peptide ligand library (CPLL) treatment to select low-abundance species.