In silico identification of potential new latex allergens.

Background: Allergy to latex of Hevea brasiliensis is a frequent problem. In spite of the significant progress of research, the identity and cross-reactivity of some latex allergens are unknown.
Objective: To identify, among the fully characterized latex proteins, those with a higher probability to be allergenic.
Methods: We used in silico techniques (amino acid sequence comparison and molecular modelling) to identify potential new allergens among the known proteins of H. brasiliensis.
Results: Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, heat shock protein and calmodulin of H. brasiliensis show highly significant (E < 10(-9)) amino acid sequence homologies with known allergens.
Conclusion: On the basis of our data, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, heat shock protein and calmodulin are the most probable allergens among fully characterized proteins of H. brasiliensis, and could potentially explain, at least in part, the multiple cross-reactivities of latex with vegetable foods and other plant-derived products. Consequently, we think that the above proteins should be particularly considered in the future laboratory and clinical research.