Harmonization of the Genetic Code Effectively Enhances the Recombinant Production of the Major Birch Pollen Allergen Bet v 1.

Background: Enhancing the quality and yield of protein production in heterologous expression systems is an important issue for developing new biopharmaceuticals. It has been shown that the dynamics of protein folding is influenced by codon frequencies. As codon usage frequencies are species specific, this can affect heterologous protein expression.

Characterization of the T-cell response to Dau c 1, the Bet v 1-homolog in carrot.

Background: In contrast to other Bet v 1-related food allergens, the major carrot allergen, Dau c 1, has been suggested to induce food allergy independently from Bet v 1. As T cells are crucial in the sensitization process, we sought to characterize the T-cell response to Dau c 1 and its cross-reactivity with Bet v 1.

Methods: Dau c 1-specific T-cell lines (TCL) and clones (TCC) established from PBMC of birch pollen-allergic patients with carrot allergy were analyzed for reactivity to Bet v 1, epitope specificity, allergen-induced cytokine secretion, and expression of integrins α4β7 and α4β1, critical for gut and lung homing, respectively.

How relevant is panallergen sensitization in the development of allergies?

Panallergens comprise various protein families of plant as well as animal origin and are responsible for wide IgE cross-reactivity between related and unrelated allergenic sources. Such cross-reactivities include reactions between various pollen sources, pollen and plant-derived foods as well as invertebrate-derived inhalants and foodstuff. Here, we provide an overview on the most clinically relevant panallergens from plants (profilins, polcalcins, non-specific lipid transfer proteins, pathogenesis-related protein family 10 members) and on the prominent animal-derived panallergen family, tropomyosins.

Differences in the intrinsic immunogenicity and allergenicity of Bet v 1 and related food allergens revealed by site-directed mutagenesis.

Background: Birch pollen allergies are frequently associated with adverse reactions to various fruits, nuts, or vegetables, described as pollen-food syndrome (PFS) and caused by cross-reactive IgE antibodies primarily directed against Bet v 1. Specific immunotherapy (SIT) represents an effective treatment for inhalant allergies; however, successful birch pollen SIT does not correlate well with the amelioration of concomitant food allergies.

Methods: As vaccine candidates, apple Mal d 1 as well as hazelnut Cor a 1 derivatives were designed by in silico backbone analyses of the respective allergens.

Panallergens and their impact on the allergic patient.

The panallergen concept encompasses families of related proteins, which are involved in general vital processes and thus, widely distributed throughout nature. Plant panallergens share highly conserved sequence regions, structure, and function. They are responsible for many IgE cross-reactions even between unrelated pollen and plant food allergen sources.

Budd-Chiari syndrome and portal vein thrombosis due to right atrial myxoma.

Budd-Chiari syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by hepatic venous outflow obstruction. Atrial myxomas account for 35% to 50% of primary cardiac tumors and are usually located in the left atrium. We describe a patient who presented with hepatic inferior vena cava and portal vein thrombosis due to a large myxoma of the right atrium.