Introduction FP7 project ATOPICA (Atopic diseases in changing climate, land use and air quality) supported by EU Grant agreement NO: CP 282687 explores the combined panEuropean impact of changes in climate, land use and air pollution on allergen pollen-induced diseases with an accent on atopy due to ragweed sensitization. Sensitization to ragweed pollen correlates with levels of airborne pollen...

Background Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) is an IgE-mediated allergic response to fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables caused by cross-reactivity between pollen allergens and structurally similar food proteins. Alder pollen is a prominent allergen in coastal British Columbia, present at high levels from FebruaryApril. We hypothesized that this exposure may lead to increased prevalence of Alder pollen...

Grass pollen belong to the most important allergen sources involved in the elicitation of allergic asthma. We have isolated cDNAs coding for Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) and timothy grass (Phleum pratense) pollen allergens, belonging to a family of pectin-degrading enzymes (i.e., polygalacturonases). The corresponding allergens, termed Cyn d 13 and Phl p 13, represent glycoproteins of appro...

BACKGROUND Natural allergen contact induces an increase of IgE levels and sensitivity but the mechanisms underlying the allergen-specific memory responses are poorly understood. Furthermore, it has not been studied whether allergen exposure affects the molecular reactivity profiles in patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of nasal allergen encounter on the molecular profi...

Protease activities in allergen sources are thought to be involved in triggering allergic inflammation through the disruption of epithelial barrier or the induction of proinflammatory cytokines. Protease allergens may also work as type 2 helper T cell (TH2) adjuvants through the cleavage of cell surface receptors. Here, we report molecular cloning and immunochemical characterization of a new Ja...

Cupressaceae pollen has one of the highest pollen incidences in the Mediterranean area and is present in the atmosphere practically all year round, although it is predominant in the winter period, when no other plants are flowering, making this particle a powerful allergen. In Europe, allergy to Cupressaceae pollen was considered a rarity until 1975, but is now a recognized clinical entity, Bel...

The term pollen-food allergy syndrome (PFAS) defines a series of clinical symptoms appearing shortly after the ingestion of plant-derived foods in subjects with pollen allergy. The patients with PFAS are primarily allergic to pollen and subsequently react to food allergens as a consequence of the homology between pollen and plantfood proteins. The two highly conserved proteins responsible for t...

BACKGROUND Lipid transfer proteins (LTP) are pan-allergens in plant derived foods that have been also detected in several pollens. The observed cross-reactivity between pollen and plant-food LTPs has led to hypothesize that primary sensitisation to this allergen may occur through the airways. OBJECTIVE The present study looked at the prevalence of hypersensitivity to different L TP-containing...

Pollen is one of the most common causes of allergy worldwide, making the study of their molecular composition crucial for the advancement of allergy research. Despite substantial efforts in this field, it is not yet clear why some plant pollens strongly provoke allergies while others do not. However, proteases and protease inhibitors from allergen sources are known to play an important role in ...

Objective: Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) for allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar ( JC) pollisosis was investigated to examine its clinical efficacy and adverse effects, as well as the changes of serum antibodies. Research design and methods: A placebo-controlled, double-blind study was performed with 12 patients in the SLIT group and 16 patients in the placebo group. Treatment was started...