Identification of a defensin as novel allergen in celery root: Api g 7 as a missing link in the diagnosis of celery allergy?

However, celeriac allergic patients often show sensitization to mugwort defensin Art v 1 (Table S1).6 This prompted us to investigate the potential presence and role of a defensin-related allergen in allergy to celeriac. IgE-binding capacity and allergenicity of celeriac defensin (officially named Api g 7, www.allergen.org4) was investigated by immunoblotting and ImmunoCAP testing in eight celeriac allergic patients, two celeriac-tolerant controls with mugwort pollen allergy and a non-atopic control. Celeriac allergy is often accompanied by respiratory allergy to mugwort ( I Artemisia vulgaris i ) pollen,5 which cannot be explained by IgE cross-reactivity to known homologous celeriac allergens. [Extracted from the article]