Search

This document summarizes the findings of a study on chicken meat allergy (ChMA) in children. The study found that the sensitization profiles of the children varied greatly and did not necessarily correspond to the severity of their symptoms. The researchers identified 25 potential allergens in chicken meat that could be studied further. The document acknowledges the contributions of different individuals and states that there are no conflicts of interest. [Extracted from the article]

L'acérola est un fruit tropical 20 à 30 fois plus riche en vitamine C que l'orange. On trouve de l'acérola dans des comprimés ou des poudres vendus pour leur richesse en vitamine C et aussi sous forme de jus ou en additif dans des compotes ou jus de fruit. Excepté la mise en évidence d'une réactivité croisée d'une protéine non identifiée d'acérola avec Hev b 6 du latex, les allergènes de l'acérola n'ont pas été étudiés. Les protéines d'acérola ont été extraites à partir du fruit frais, d'un jus commercial et de poudre riche en vitamine C. Les allergènes ont fait l'objet d'une analyse allergomique incluant des immunoempreintes grâce à des patients documentés et l'identification des protéines par spectrométrie de masse. Les immunoempreintes IgE réalisées avec des patients sensibilisés aux lipid transfer protein (LTP) présentent une réactivité IgE dans les faibles masses moléculaires correspondant aux LTP. En revanche, ni gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP), ni PR10 et ni profiline allergéniques ne sont révélées. La présence de LTP est confirmée par l'utilisation d'anticorps anti-LTP de pêche et par leur identification dans les extraits de fruit frais et de jus commercial par spectrométrie de masse qui révèle, en outre, de nombreux allergènes potentiels. On peut aussi détecter la présence de LTP dans la poudre riche en vitamine C. Le jus d'acérola et les produits dérivés contenant de l'acérola comportent donc un risque certain pour les patients sensibilisés aux LTP. Acerola is a tropical fruit 20 to 30 times richer in vitamin C than oranges. Acerola is found in tablets or powders commercially available for their richness in vitamin C and also in the form of juice or as additives in compotes and fruit juices. Besides a previous report on the existence of an IgE cross-reactivity of an unidentified acerola protein with Hev b 6 from latex no studies on acerola allergens have been performed. Acerola proteins were extracted from fresh fruit, commercial juice and a vitamin C-enriched powder. Allergens were studied by an allergomics analysis, including IgE immunoblots, using sera from documented patients followed by protein identification using mass spectrometry. IgE Immunoblots performed with patients sensitized to LTPs, showed IgE reactivities in low molecular mass corresponding to LTPs. In contrast, no allergenic gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP), PR10 and profilin were revealed. The presence of LTP was confirmed by the use of specific anti-Pru p 3 antibodies and their identification in fresh fruit and commercial juice extracts by mass spectrometry that further unravelled several putative allergens. LTP was also detected in vitamin C-enriched powder. Acerola fruit and juice as well as derived products containing acerola carries a risk for LTP sensitized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les Cupressacées appartiennent aux conifères et sont une famille de l'ordre des Pinales. Ils constituent, au sein des Gymnospermes, la famille la plus fortement représentée à travers le monde. Selon une classification phylogénétique ils sont composés de 160 espèces réparties en 7 sous familles et 29 genres distribuées dans les hémisphères nord et sud. Les grains de pollen sont de petite taille, en moyenne de 20 à 40 μm. Leur pollinisation est abondante, les pollen peuvent représenter jusqu'à 60 % du spectre pollinique. Des allergies sévères ont été rapportées sur tout le bassin méditerranéen où l'on trouve les espèces Cupressus sempervirens et Hesperocyparis arizonica, aux États-Unis dues à Juniperus ashei et au Japon à cause de Cryptomeria japonica. Cinq groupes d'allergènes ont été décrits. Les Cupressacées sont donc présents sur tous les continents soit de façon endémique soit implantés. Leur pollen est très allergisant et est impliqué dans les syndromes pollen/aliment, en particulier avec la pêche et les agrumes. Deux façons de limiter la sensibilisation serait de contrôler son implantation et favoriser la taille des arbres. Cupressaceae are members of Coniferous and constitute a family from the order Pinales. The family is the most represented Gymnosperms in the world. According to a phylogenetic classification, they encompass 160 species in 7 families and 29 genera distributed in the North and South hemispheres. Pollen grains are small, 20 to 40 μm and pollination is abundant. Cupressaceae pollen can represent up to 60% of all pollen spectrum. Severe allergies have been reported around the Mediterranean basin where Cupressus sempervirens and Hesperocyparis arizonica are implanted, in USA because of Juniperus ashei and in Japon essentially because of Cryptomeria japonica. Five groups of allergens have been described. Therefore Cupressaceae are present on the five continents either endemic or imported. Their pollen are very allergenic and they are involved in pollen food syndromes, especially with peach and citrus. Two ways to limit the sensitization would be to control its planting and favour hedge trimming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Les cyprès comprennent 160 espèces dont les principaux représentants sont Cupressus et Hesperocyparis autour du bassin méditerranéen , Juniperus aux États-Unis et Cryptomeria au Japon. Leur pollen, abondant en saison est très allergénique et responsable de rhinoconjonctivite, asthme et toux chronique. Quatre groupes d'allergènes, agréés WHO/IUIS, sont décrits : le groupe 1, une pectate lyase, allergène majeur, marqueur spécifique de l'allergie au cyprès, le groupe 2, des polygalacturonases, le groupe 3, des protéines thaumatin-like et le groupe 4 correspondant à des protéines fixant le calcium. En 2010, un allergène cationique de petite taille, BP14, sensibilisant principalement les patients allergiques au pollen de cyprès du sud-est de la France a été décrit. L'allergène, de pertinence clinique, appartient à une famille de protéine non décrite comme allergène dans le pollen, les snakin/gibberellin regulated proteins (GRP), petites protéines cationiques possédant des propriétés antimicrobiennes. La gibbérelline est une phytohormone qui contrôle différentes voies métaboliques, dont la réponse au stress biotique et abiotique. Des allergènes de la famille snakin/GRP ont été caractérisés dans la pêche (Pru p 7), les agrumes (Cit s 7), l'abricot du Japon (Pru m 7) et la grenade (Pun g 7). BP14 croise avec Pru p 7 et Cit s 7, ce qui explique les syndromes cliniques associés décrits cyprès/pêche et cyprès/agrumes. Une vingtaine d'autres allergènes est, par ailleurs, répertoriée dans la littérature. Les études d'allergologie moléculaire sur ce pollen permettent de comprendre les réactions croisées soutenues par les données cliniques et ainsi d'accroître la précision du diagnostic et du traitement immunothérapeutique. Abstract Cypresses comprise 160 species with the main ones being Cupressus and Hesperocyparis , found around the Mediterranean basin, Juniperus in the USA and Cryptomeria in Japan. Atmospheric pollen, levels of which are very high in the pollinating season, is highly allergenic and induces rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma and chronic cough. Four groups of allergens are listed in the WHO/IUIS allergen data bank: group 1, pectate lyase; group 2, polygalacturonase; group 3, thaumatin-like protein; group 4, calcium-binding protein. In 2010, a small cationic allergen, BP14, was described and mainly concerned sensitized patients allergic to cypress pollen in south-eastern France. This allergen is clinically relevant and belongs to an unusual pollen allergen protein family, the snakin/gibberellin-regulated proteins (GRP). Gibberellin is a phytohormone that mediates several metabolic pathways in plants, including those of biotic and abiotic stress. Snakin/GRP are small cationic proteins with antimicrobial properties. Certain allergens belonging to this protein family have been described in peach (Pru p 7), sweet orange (Cit s 7), Japanese apricot (Pru m 7) and pomegranate (Pun g 7). BP14 is cross-reactive with Pru p 7 and Cit s 7. These results account for the clinically described associated cypress/peach and cypress/citrus syndromes. Further, around 20 more allergens have been characterized in the literature. Molecular allergology studies on cypress pollen provide an understanding of cross reactions supported by clinical data, thus improving the precision of diagnosis and of immunotherapeutic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Air pollution is frequently proposed as a potential cause of the increased incidence of allergy in industrialised countries. Our objective was to investigate the impact of the major gaseous air pollutants on grass pollen allergens. Methods: Timothy grass pollen was exposed to ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) alone or in combination. Allergen contents were analysed by 2-dimensional immunoblot using grass pollen-sensitive patient sera. Results: For O3-treated pollen, immunoblotting showed an acidification of allergens Phl p 1b, Phl p 4, Phl p 5 and Phl p 6 and an IgE recognition decrease in Phl p 1, Phl p 2, Phl p 6 and Phl p 13. NO2 exposure induced a decrease in Phl p 2, Phl p 5b and Phl p 6 recognition, and SO2 treatment induced a decrease in Phl p 2, Phl p 6 and Phl p 13 recognition. Moreover, samples treated with a mix of NO2/O3 or NO2/SO2 showed a higher decrease in allergen content, compared with samples treated with only one pollutant. The O3 acidification was also observed with the NO2/O3 mix. Conclusion: Exposure of pollen to gaseous pollutants induced a decrease in allergen detection in pollen extracts. This decrease could be due to a mechanical loss of allergens from the altered pollen grains and/or post-translational modifications affecting allergen recognition by IgE. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this study we examined the effects of the inflammatory agent hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on IgE-mediated mast cell responses.¶ Materials and methods: Release of preformed granular mediators and newly synthesised TNF- >α were measured in the RBL-2H3 mast cell line stimulated through IgE receptors (Fc >εRI) in the presence of varying concentrations of H2O2. The sensitivity of the intracellular calcium response to H2O2 exposure was investigated.¶ Results: We found that H2O2 treatment impaired the release of preformed and newly synthesised mediators. H2O2 treatment simultaneously led to a profound inhibition of the calcium response. Calcium fluxes from both intra- and extracellular sources were impaired. H2O2 action was dependent on the intracellular redox state. Receptor activation directly stimulated intracellular H2O2 production.¶ Conclusion: While in many cells H2O2 induces potent inflammatory responses we show that it can be an anti-inflammatory agent by not only inhibiting the release of preformed mediators but also by affecting the secretion of newly synthesized TNF- >α. Inhibition is a consequence of the profound effect on intracellular calcium levels. The activation of an intracellular oxidative burst by Fc εRI aggregation and the sensitivity of intracellular responses to redox-altering agents point to an important regulatory mechanism of mast cell responses in inflammatory tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Air pollution is frequently proposed as a potential cause of the increased incidence of allergy in industrialised countries. Our objective was to investigate the impact of the major gaseous air pollutants on grass pollen allergens. Methods: Timothy grass pollen was exposed to ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) alone or in combination. Allergen contents were analysed by 2-dimensional immunoblot using grass pollen-sensitive patient sera. Results: For O3-treated pollen, immunoblotting showed an acidification of allergens Phl p 1b, Phl p 4, Phl p 5 and Phl p 6 and an IgE recognition decrease in Phl p 1, Phl p 2, Phl p 6 and Phl p 13. NO2 exposure induced a decrease in Phl p 2, Phl p 5b and Phl p 6 recognition, and SO2 treatment induced a decrease in Phl p 2, Phl p 6 and Phl p 13 recognition. Moreover, samples treated with a mix of NO2/O3 or NO2/SO2 showed a higher decrease in allergen content, compared with samples treated with only one pollutant. The O3 acidification was also observed with the NO2/O3 mix. Conclusion: Exposure of pollen to gaseous pollutants induced a decrease in allergen detection in pollen extracts. This decrease could be due to a mechanical loss of allergens from the altered pollen grains and/or post-translational modifications affecting allergen recognition by IgE. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. Controls were patients with food allergies, patients sensitized to Pru p 3, and patients with cypress allergy without food allergy. Diagnostic workup included skin tests, basophil activation test, Western blot, and single and multiplex assays., Results: In total, 23 patients and 14 controls were enrolled. The most implicated food was peach (91.3%). Approximately 70% of patients reacted to multiple foods. Mueller 4 reactions were 8.7%. In 26.1% of cases, a cofactor triggered the reaction. The basophil activation test results were positive for rPru p 7 in 87% of the patients. Specific immunoglobulin E to Pru p 7 was detected in 95.7% by singleplex and in 73.9% by multiplex assays in patients with suspected allergies; 73.9% of them also reacted to cypress pollen GRP (Cup s 7) in Western blot analysis., Conclusion: Patients with Pru p 7-Cup s 7 allergy in our cohort confirm a mild-to-severe clinical syndrome characterized by pollen and food allergy. The diagnosis may benefit from the proposed selection criteria that can be used as preliminary steps to further characterize the cross-reactive GRP sensitization., (Copyright © 2023 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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. The first edition of the "EAACI Molecular Allergology User's Guide" (MAUG) in 2016 rapidly became a key reference for clinicians, scientists, and interested readers with a background in allergology, immunology, biology, and medicine. Nevertheless, the field of molecular allergology is moving fast, and after 6 years, a new EAACI Taskforce was established to provide an updated document. The Molecular Allergology User's Guide 2.0 summarizes state-of-the-art information on allergen molecules, their clinical relevance, and their application in diagnostic algorithms for clinical practice. It is designed for both, clinicians and scientists, guiding health care professionals through the overwhelming list of different allergen molecules available for testing. Further, it provides diagnostic algorithms on the clinical relevance of allergenic molecules and gives an overview of their biology, the basic mechanisms of test formats, and the application of tests to measure allergen exposure., (© 2023 The Authors. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

About 10 years ago, a protein family was shown for the first time to contain allergenic members, gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP). The first reported member was from peach, Pru p 7. One can hypothesize that it was not detected before because its physicochemical characteristics overlap with those of lipid transfer protein (LTP), a well-known allergen, or because the exposure to GRP increased due to an increase in the gibberellin phythormone level in plant food, either exogenous or endogenous. Like LTPs, GRPs are small cationic proteins with disulfide bridges, are resistant to heat and proteolytic cleavage, and are involved in the defense of the plant. Besides peach, GRP allergens have been described in Japanese apricot (Pru m 7), sweet cherry (Pru av 7), orange (Cit s 7), pomegranate (Pun g 7), bell pepper (Cap a 7), strawberry (Fra a GRP), and also in pollen with a restriction to Cupressaceae tree family (Cup s 7, Cry j 7, and Jun a 7). IgE cross-reactivities were described between GRPs, and the reported peach/cypress and citrus/cypress syndromes may therefore be explained because of these GRP cross-reactivities. GRPs are clinically relevant, and severe adverse reactions may sometimes occur in association with cofactors. More than 60% and up to 95% sequence identities are calculated between various allergenic GRPs, and three-dimensional models show a cleft in the molecule and predict at least three epitopic regions. The structure of the protein and its properties and the matrix effect in the original allergenic source should be unraveled to understand why, despite the ubiquity of the protein family in plants, only a few members are able to sensitize patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2022 Iizuka, Barre, Rougé, Charpin, Scala, Baudin, Aizawa, Sénéchal and Poncet.)

The Capsicum genus belongs to the Solanaceae family. Bell or chili peppers are consumed worldwide, but allergy to Capsicum is rare. It is involved in the celery-birch-mugwort-spice syndrome and cross-reactivities were reported with latex. Several allergens have been described, but only 2 are referenced in the World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies allergen data bank, a thaumatin-like protein and a profilin. A patient allergic to bell/chili pepper, peach, orange and Japanese cedar pollen was clinically and biologically analyzed including direct and competitive immunoblots and basophil activation tests (BATs) with allergenic source extracts and recombinant gibberellin-regulated proteins (GRPs). The patient was shown to be sensitized to Cap a 7, the GRP of Capsicum annuum newly described herein. Cross-reactivities were demonstrated between various GRPs from bell/chili pepper, peach, orange and Japanese cedar pollen either in native form in the different extracts or as recombinant allergens. A similar immunoglobulin E reactivity was found also in Capsicum chinense and against snakin-1, the GRP from potato. The patient showed a positive BAT with recombinant Cry j 7, Pru p 7 and Cap a 7, but not with recombinant snakin-1. Despite the ubiquitous nature of GRPs in plants and the immunochemical cross-reactivity observed between different GRPs, clinically relevant sensitization to this protein family seems restricted to some allergenic sources, often associated with Cupressaceae pollen allergy, and to some patients, therefore reflecting very specific and peculiar mechanisms of conditional sensitization., Competing Interests: There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology • The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease.)

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. The biochemical composition of allergenic PGs has not yet been fully described despite potential health effects of PG constituents other than allergenic proteins. This review brings together the information available in literature aiming at creating a comprehensive picture of the current knowledge about the chemical composition of allergenic PGs from timothy grass. PPPGs have an average diameter between 30-35 μm and the mass of a single PG was reported between 11 and 26 ng. The pollen cytoplasm is filled with two types of pollen cytoplasmic granules (PCGs): the starch granules and the polysaccharide particles (p-particles). Starch granules have a size between 0.6-2.5 μm with an average diameter of 1.1 μm (estimated number of 1000 granules per PG) while p-particles have a size ranging around 0.3 to 0.4 μm (estimated number between 61,000-230,000 p-particles per PG). The rupture of PG induces the release of PCGs and the dispersion of allergens in the inhalable fraction of atmospheric aerosol. PPPGs are composed of sporopollenin, sugars, polysaccharides, starch, glycoproteins (including allergens), amino-acids, lipids, flavonoids (including isorhamnetin), various elements (the more abundant being Si, Mg and Ca), phenolic compounds, phytoprostanoids, carotenoids (pigments) metals and adsorbed pollutants. PPPG contains about a hundred different proteins with molecular masses ranging from 10 to 94 kDa, with isoelectric points from 3.5-10.6. Among these proteins, allergens are classified in eleven groups from 1 to 13 with allergens from groups 1 and 5 being the major contributors to Phl p pollen allergy. Major allergen Phl p 5 was quantified in PPPGs by several studies with concentration ranging from 2.7 and 3.5 μg.mg -1 in unpolluted environment. Values for other allergens are scarce in literature; only one quantitative assessment exists for allergen groups Phl p 1, 2 and 4. The extractible lipid fraction of PPPGs is estimated between 1.7-2.2% of the total PG mass. The main chemical families of lipids reported in PPPGs are: alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, di- and tri-hydroxylated fatty acids, aldehydes and sterols. Several lipid compounds with potential adjuvant effects on allergy have been specifically quantified in PPPGs: E2-like prostaglandin (PGE2), B4-like leukotriene (LTB4), unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids and their hydroxylated derivatives), adenosine, vitamins and phenolic compounds. Some other biochemical characteristics such as NAD(P)H oxidase, protease activity and pollen microbiome were described in the literature. The bioaccessibility in physiological conditions has not been described for most biochemicals transported by allergenic PPPGs. There is also a considerable lack of knowledge about the potential health effects of pollen constituents other than allergens. The variability of pollen composition remains also largely unknown despite its importance for plant reproduction and allergy in an environment characterized by chemical pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

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., Methods: A dry and room temperature stable reagent technology was used to simplify and standardize BAT. Under optimized conditions, EDTA anticoagulated whole blood samples of non-allergic and allergic donors (<24 h old) together with calcium containing buffer were added to ready-to-use dry reagent tubes or 96 well plates (negative controls, positive controls and allergen tests) containing a 5 color compensation-free antibody panel (CD45-KrO/CD3-PC7/CRTH2-A647/CD203c-PE/CD63-PB). Upon mixing and incubation at 37 °C for 15 min, erythrocytes were lysed and samples were analyzed by flow cytometry without further washing steps. While it is important to precisely control the incubation time to minimize the assay variability, herein, a 15 min incubation time was chosen as it provides a suitable compromise for both the magnitude of basophil activation and the quality of the staining. A Biomek NXP robotic platform (Beckman Coulter) was used for automation and both CD203c and CD63 levels were monitored to characterize basophil reactivity., Results: This streamlined BAT protocol is no-wash, compensation free and only requires 4 pipetting steps to be completed. The assessment of assay performance characteristics showed wide applicability, satisfactory repeatability and a high degree of standardization as demonstrated by very low intra-assay and inter-operator variabilities (CVs < 10%). Leveraging these technical foundations, it was then proven that this new BAT procedure can easily be transposed into the 96 well plate format, thereby benefiting from a miniaturized format and full automation capabilities. When considering 8 dilution points to characterize the ex vivo basophil reactivity of a given whole blood sample, we found that as little as 5 μL of blood per point could be used., Conclusions: A whole blood based and simplified procedure for BAT is proposed. It relies on a dry antibody formulation technology and requires only a few manual steps to be completed. This procedure can also be transposed in a 96 well plate format, fully automated and miniaturized, when sample volume reduction, throughput increase or unattended sample preparation is required., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest R. Arif-Lusson is a PhD student and is currently employed by Beckman Coulter Inc. J-M. Busnel is an employee of Beckman Coulter Inc. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose in relation to this work. Unrelated to this work: J. Vitte has received speaker fees from MEDA Pharma, Mylan and Thermo Fisher, consultancy fees from Sanofi, reimbursement from Thermo Fisher for attending the 2015 EAACI congress, and from Stallergènes for attending the 2013 ISMA congress. Thermo Fisher has supported Dr. Thomas Romain, a student from J. Vitte lab, for attending the 2016 and 2017 EAACI congresses., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

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., Areas Covered: Articles published in peer-reviewed journals, covered by PubMed databank, clinical data are discussed including symptoms, diagnosis, and management. A chapter emphasizes the role of six well-known allergen families involved in PFAS: PR10 proteins, profilins, lipid transfer proteins, thaumatin-like proteins, isoflavone reductases, and β-1,3 glucanases. The relevance in PFAS of three supplementary allergen families is presented: oleosins, polygalacturonases, and gibberellin-regulated proteins. To support the discussion a few original relevant results were added., Expert Opinion: Both allergenic sources, pollen and food, are submitted to the same stressful environmental changes resulting in an increase of pathogenesis-related proteins in which numerous allergens are found. This might be responsible for the potential increase of PFAS.

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. The most important taxa for allergic diseases belong to five different genera: Cupressus, Hesperocyparis, Juniperus, Cryptomeria, and Chamaecyparis. Cupressaceae species share a common pollen type that can even include the genus Taxus (Taxaceae) when this plant is also present. As Juniperus oxycedrus pollinates in October, Cupressus sempervirens in January and February, Hesperocyparis arizonica (prev. Cupressus arizonica) in February and March, and Juniperus communis in April, the symptomatic period is long-lasting. Due to global warming, the pollination period tends to last longer, and there is a trend for Cupressaceae bioclimate niches to migrate north. In Mediterranean areas, C. sempervirens (Italian cypress or Mediterranean cypress) is by far the most common pollinating species. It accounts for half of the total pollination level. The group 1 major allergens belong to the pectate-lyase family, and members share 70 to 97% sequence homology within the different Cupressaceae. Group 2 allergens correspond to the polygalacturonase protein family, while group 3, a minor allergen, belongs to the family of "thaumatin-like proteins," a pathogenesis-related protein 5. Group 4 allergens are Ca ++ -binding protein (4 EF-hands). Aside from these four groups, about 15 other allergens have been reported. Prominent among these is a basic low-molecular mass cross-reactive allergen that was identified recently, and which is suspected to be involved in pollen food syndromes which are common with peach and citrus. The prevalence of cypress allergy in the general population ranges from 0.6 to 3%, depending on the degree of exposure to the pollen. Depending on the geographic area and the studied population, 9 to 65% of outpatients consulting an allergist may have sensitization to cypress pollen. Repeated cross-sectional studies performed at different time intervals have demonstrated a threefold increase in the percentage of cypress allergy around the Mediterranean area. Risk factors include a genetic predisposition and/or a strong exposure to pollen, and the natural history of cypress allergy allows identification of a subgroup of patients as allergic rather than atopic. Concerning the clinical expression, rhinitis is the most prevalent symptom, while conjunctivitis is the most disabling. Pharmacological treatment of cypress allergies is not different from that of other seasonal allergies. Immunotherapy has been used, initially by subcutaneous injections, but currently mostly through the sublingual route. Although clinical trials have included only a limited number of patients, it has proven effective and safe. Avoidance can be implemented at the individual level, as well as at the community level, through the use of alternative plants, low-pollinating cypresses, or by trimming hedges before pollination.

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. Additional functional characterizations require either protein purification or 2-DE replicates and appear to be time- and reagent-consuming. Here we described a modified double one-dimensional electrophoresis (D1-DE) allowing the conversion of a protein spot previously visualized by 2-DE into an extended protein band. In D1-DE, the purity of the protein of interest is similar to 2-DE spots, but its abundance is many times higher than what can be found in a 2-DE single spot allowing many other functional analyses from a single D1-DE separation.

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. In the present chapter, a protocol based on improved protein extraction and enrichment by CPLL, allowing the immunochemical characterization of several "hidden allergens" in cypress pollen, is described in detail.

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. A patient suffering from a peach/cypress syndrome was explored clinically and biologically using 2 types of immunoglobulin E (IgE) multiarray microchip, immunoblots and a basophil activation test to assess the clinical relevance of various extracts and purified allergens from fruits or cypress pollen. In addition to PR10 sensitization, the patient showed specific IgE to Pru p 7, BP14 and allergen from pomegranate. These last 3 allergens and allergenic sources are able to induce ex vivo basophil activation characterized by the monitoring of the expression of CD63 and CD203c, both cell surface markers correlated with a basophil mediator release. Up to 100% of cells expressed CD203c at 50 ng/mL of BP14 protein. In contrast, snakin-1, a GRP from potato sharing 82% sequence identity with Pru p 7 did not activate patient's basophils. These results strongly suggest that, like Pru p 7, BP14 is a clinically relevant allergenic GRP from pollen. Allergen members of this newly described protein family are good candidates for PFAS where no cross-reactive allergens have been characterized., Competing Interests: There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology · The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease.)

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., Objective: To characterize the allergic reaction and identify the potential nettle pollen sensitizing allergens., Methods: IgE-mediated reaction to nettle pollen extract was evaluated by skin prick test, immunoassay, nasal provocation, and basophil activation test. To characterize specific nettle pollen allergens, an allergomic (IgE immunoproteomic) analysis was performed combining 1- and 2-dimensional electrophoresis, IgE immunoblots of nettle pollen extract, identification of allergens by mass spectrometry, and database queries., Results: The results of biological and immunochemical analyses revealed that the allergic rhinitis was due to Urtica dioica pollen in both patients. The allergomic analysis of nettle pollen extract allowed the characterization of 4 basic protein allergens: a thaumatin-like protein (osmotin) with a relative molecular mass of 27 to 29 kDa, a pectinesterase (relative molecular mass, 40 kDa), and 2 other basic proteins with relative molecular masses of 14 to 16 kDa and 43 kDa. There is no or only very weak allergen associations between pellitory and nettle pollen., Conclusion: Exposure to nettle pollen can be responsible of allergic symptoms, and several allergens were characterized. Unravelling the allergens of this underestimated allergy might help to improve diagnosis and care for patients, to predict cross-reactivities and design adapted specific immunotherapy., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

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. Physicochemical and biological effects of artificial pollution (gaseous and particulate) on pollen from different plants, in different laboratory conditions, are considered. The effects of polluted pollen grains, subparticles, and derived aeroallergens in animal models, in in vitro cell culture, on healthy human and allergic patients are described. Combined effects of atmospheric pollutants and pollen grains-derived biological material on allergic population are specifically discussed. Within the notion of "polluen," some methodological biases are underlined and research tracks in this field are proposed.

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. Pollen extracts were electrophoretically separated in 1 and 2 dimensions and IgE and IgG reactivities detected upon immunoblotting., Results: When exploring the sensitization profile of Malagasy allergic patients to maize and rice pollen, it appears that a high proportion of these patients consulting during grass pollinating season were sensitized to both pollen as revealed by skin prick testing (62 vs. 59%) and IgE immunoblotting (85 vs. 40%). Several clinically relevant allergens were recognized by patients' serum IgE in maize and rice pollen extracts., Conclusion: The high levels of maize and rice pollen sensitization should be related, in this tropical region, to a specific environmental exposure including i) a proximity of the population to the allergenic sources and ii) a putative exacerbating effect of a highly polluted urban atmosphere on pollen allergenicity. Cross-reactivities between wild and cultivated grasses and also between rice and maize pollen are involved as well as some specific maize sensitizations. The presence of dense urban and peri-urban agriculture, in various African regions and worldwide, could be a high environmental risk factor for people sensitive to maize pollen.

Cypress pollen represents the primary cause of respiratory allergies in Mediterranean areas. Patients allergic to Cupressus sempervirens pollen (Cups) (CPA) can be discriminated on the basis of the immunoglobulin E (IgE) binding to a basic 14 kDa protein (BP14) or to high-molecular-weight (HMW) glycoproteins only. Specific IgE repertoires of two differentially exposed CPA cohorts, French and Italian, were investigated using an IgE microarray system (some known major allergens from several allergenic sources) and individual IgE immunoblotting (IB) of whole Cups pollen extract separated by SDS-PAGE (all allergens from one allergenic source: cypress pollen). The prevalence of sensitization to BP14 was higher in French (37 %) than in Italian patients (17 %) and major differences were observed in IgE reactivities to lipid transfer proteins (LTPs). Thirty percent of the Italian CPA (4 % in the French group) had specific IgE against the Parietaria pollen LTP, independently of IB subgroups. Regarding peach LTP sensitization, all Pru p 3+ Italian CPA (10 %) were in the HMW+ subgroup, while Pru p 3+ French CPA (20 %) were all included in the BP14+ subgroup. BP14 sensitization is likely a marker of Cups exposure and is, in French CPA, significantly correlated to Pru p 3 sensitization. The IgE immunoblot and microarray are complementary tools that highlight differences in the subtle sensitization profile between groups of patients in comparative studies.

The bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1) E2 protein binds as a dimer to the viral genome to promote its transcription, replication and maintenance in keratinocytes. Although BPV1 E2 dimerizes primarily through its DNA-binding domain, it was shown previously that its transactivation domain (TAD) can also dimerize in vitro through formation of a disulfide bond between cysteine 57 (C57) of adjacent monomers and of an ion pair between arginine 172 (R172) and aspartic acid 175 (D175). The function of this TAD dimerization interface in vivo remains unknown. Here, we report the effects of substituting C57, R172 and D175 by alanine on the transactivation activity of BPV E2 as well as on its ability to support viral DNA replication using a novel luciferase-based assay. Results for this mutational analysis suggest that the TAD dimerization interface is not essential for either process but may contribute to the DNA replication activity of BPV1 E2., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: In the mid-1990s, the prevalence rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) in French hospitals was high and control of MDRB spread then became a major priority in the national infection control programme (ICP)., Methods: To evaluate the impact of the ICP, a national coordination of MDRB surveillance was set up in 2002. Data were collected 3 months a year in healthcare facilities (HCFs) on a voluntary basis. All clinical specimens of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBLE) were prospectively included. Incidences per 1000 patient days (PDs) were calculated and trends in incidence from 2003 to 2010 were assessed., Results: Participation in the surveillance increased from 478 HCFs in 2002 to 933 in 2010. In 2010, MRSA incidence was 0.40/1000 PDs: 1.14 in intensive care units (ICUs), 0.48 in acute care facilities (ACFs) and 0.27 in rehabilitation and long-term care facilities (RLTCFs). ESBLE incidence was 0.39/1000 PDs: 1.63 in ICUs, 0.46 in ACFs and 0.23 in RLTCFs. MRSA incidence significantly decreased from 0.72/1000 PDs in 2003 to 0.41/1000 PDs in 2010 (P<10(-3)); in contrast, ESBLE incidence significantly increased from 0.17/1000 PDs to 0.48/1000 PDs (P<10(-3)). The most prevalent ESBLE were Enterobacter aerogenes (34%) and Escherichia coli (25%) in 2003 and E. coli (60%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%) in 2010., Conclusion: These results demonstrate the positive impact of the national ICP on MRSA rates. In contrast, ESBLE incidence, especially ESBL-producing E. coli, is increasing dramatically and represents a serious threat for hospitals and for the community that deserves specific control actions.