Longitudinal Follow-up Reveals Peripheral Immunological Changes Upon Tick Bite in a-Gal-Sensitized Individuals.

Background And Objectives: α-Gal syndrome is characterized by specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) and delayed onset of allergic symptoms after ingestion of mammalian meat. While tick bites are assumed to mediate sensitization, the immune response to tick bites has not yet been investigated. To investigate the peripheral immune response to tick bites in humans over time.

Hypoallergenic animals: A promise of hope for allergic patients?

Furry pets are beloved companion animals; horse riding is a popular leisure activity. So-called hypoallergenic animals have gained high interest as sensitization to animal dander and allergy to furry animals are widespread. Allergen immunotherapy to furry animals is still limited, and allergen avoidance in addition to symptomatic pharmaceutical treatment is often the only available option.

IgE and anaphylaxis specific to the carbohydrate alpha-gal depend on IL-4.

Background: Alpha-gal (Galα1-3Galβ1-4GlcNAc) is a carbohydrate with the potential to elicit fatal allergic reactions to mammalian meat and drugs of mammalian origin. This type of allergy is induced by tick bites, and therapeutic options for this skin-driven food allergy are limited to the avoidance of the allergen and treatment of symptoms. Thus, a better understanding of the immune mechanisms resulting in sensitization through the skin is crucial, especially in the case of a carbohydrate allergen for which underlying immune responses are poorly understood.

Mammalian derived lipocalin and secretoglobin respiratory allergens strongly bind ligands with potentially immune modulating properties.

Allergens from furry animals frequently cause sensitization and respiratory allergic diseases. Most relevant mammalian respiratory allergens belong either to the protein family of lipocalins or secretoglobins. Their mechanism of sensitization remains largely unresolved.

α-Gal present on both glycolipids and glycoproteins contributes to immune response in meat-allergic patients.

Background: The α-Gal syndrome is associated with the presence of IgE directed to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) and is characterized by a delayed allergic reaction occurring 2 to 6 hours after ingestion of mammalian meat. On the basis of their slow digestion and processing kinetics, α-Gal-carrying glycolipids have been proposed as the main trigger of the delayed reaction.

Objective: We analyzed and compared the in vitro allergenicity of α-Gal-carrying glycoproteins and glycolipids from natural food sources.

Patients With Atopic Dermatitis Sensitized to Pet Dander Mount IgE and T-Cell Responses to Mammalian Cystatins, Including the Human Self-Protein.

Background: Immediate and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions to pet-borne allergens are common in atopic diseases. In atopic dermatitis (AD), controversy surrounds the contribution to the disease of cross-reactivity to self-proteins. Human cystatin A and the cat allergen Fel d 3 belong to the cystatins, an evolutionary conserved protein family.

Component-resolved diagnosis using guinea-pig allergens elucidates allergen sensitization profiles in allergy to furry animals.

Background: Furry animals are an important source of indoor allergens. Diagnosis of allergy to small pets such as guinea-pigs still relies on animal dander extracts which do not allow to define the primary sensitization source.

Objective: To identify major guinea-pig allergens and to evaluate their potential as marker allergens for in vitro IgE-diagnosis in comparison with dander extracts.

The basophil activation test differentiates between patients with alpha-gal syndrome and asymptomatic alpha-gal sensitization.

Background: Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) syndrome is characterized by the presence of serum specific IgE antibodies to alpha-gal and delayed type I allergic reactions to the carbohydrate alpha-gal after consumption of mammalian (red) meat products and drugs of mammalian origin. Diagnostics currently rely on patient history, skin tests, determination of serum specific IgE antibodies, and oral food or drug challenges.

Objective: We sought to assess the utility of different basophil parameters (basophil reactivity and sensitivity, the ratio of the percentage of CD63 basophils induced by the alpha-gal-containing allergen to the percentage of CD63 basophils after stimulation with anti-FcεRI antibody [%CD63/anti-FcεRI], and area under the dose-response curve [AUC]) as biomarkers for the clinical outcome of patients with alpha-gal syndrome compared with subjects with asymptomatic alpha-gal sensitization.

Identification of a polygalacturonase (Cup s 2) as the major CCD-bearing allergen in Cupressus sempervirens pollen.

As IgE glyco-epitopes, also referred to as cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs), can share significant structural homologies between different plants, they are prone to extensive cross-reactivity among allergen pollen extracts. Here, cypress pollen allergens, especially a polygalacturonase (PG), were further characterized using double one-dimensional electrophoresis (D1-DE). The presence of specific IgE directed against CCDs was investigated by bromelain IgE inhibition and concanavalin A binding assays using sera of cypress pollen-sensitized patients.

Two galactose-α-1,3-galactose carrying peptidases from pork kidney mediate anaphylactogenic responses in delayed meat allergy.

Background: Serum IgE antibodies directed at galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) are associated with a novel form of delayed anaphylaxis occurring upon consumption of red meat or innards. Pork kidney is known as the most potent trigger of this syndrome, but the culprit allergens have not yet been identified. The aim of this study was the identification and characterization of pork kidney proteins mediating delayed anaphylactic reactions through specific IgE to α-Gal.

Evaluation of two new recombinant guinea-pig lipocalins, Cav p 2 and Cav p 3, in the diagnosis of guinea-pig allergy.

Background: Guinea-pigs, classical laboratory animals now often kept as pets, regularly elicit important allergic reactions. Two guinea-pig allergens have been described previously to some extent; however, biomolecular and immunological data are lacking.

Objective: To identify major guinea-pig allergens, produce them as recombinant proteins and define their allergenic potential and clinical importance in allergic patients.

Occupational inhalant allergy to pork followed by food allergy to pork and chicken: sensitization to hemoglobin and serum albumin.

Background: Animal-derived proteins are implicated in primary food allergies, but also in inhalant allergies with secondary food allergy symptoms. The objective of this study was to define the allergen(s) implicated in a case of food allergy to chicken meat, which developed in a person previously sensitized to pork after occupational exposure.

Methods: A 42-year-old female with a history of occupational inhalant allergy to pork reported rhinitis, asthma, dysphonia and conjunctivitis 30 min after ingestion of chicken.