Background: Allergy is a clinical disorder affecting the human population with wide geographical distribution. Platanus orientalis (P. orientalis) trees are planted in many countries and their pollen causes allergic reactions. Cyclophilin has recently been identified as one of the most important allergens of P. orientalis pollen. We aimed to clone and purify this allergen in Escherichia coli...

Pollen ranges from 2.5% to 61% protein content. Most pollen proteins are likely to be enzymes that function during pollen tube growth and subsequent fertilization, but the vast range of protein quantity may not reflect only pollen–pistil interactions. Because numerous vertebrate and invertebrate floral visitors consume pollen for protein, protein content may influence floral host choice. Additi...

Parlheniul1l pollen containing parthenin, a major sesqui terpene lactone is primarily responsible for allergic contact dermatitis. It is the higher molecular weight proteins of the pollen, which arc responsible for allergic rhinitis in Parthenium sensitive patientsl. The intranasal route has been extensively studied for immunotherapy in patients suffering from allergic rhinitis to Ambrosia arte...

The GUS gene of E. coli, encoding b-glucuronidase, has been widely used as a reporter gene in plant transformation. However, b-glucuronidase activity in transgenic wheat leaf or root tissue is rarely observed or reported. To address this question, we investigated three wheat lines transformed with the GUS reporter gene. We found all three lines expressed GUS mRNA as well as b-glucuronidase prot...

In a study during the 1993 grass pollen season at Leiden, the relationship between atmospheric pollen allergen carried by five size fractions of pauci-micronic (few microns) particles and the grass pollen count was investigated. Sampling was carried out on dry days, and atmospheric pollen allergen in the particle fractions was assessed by a RAST-inhibition assay while grass pollen quantities we...

The regulation of protein collection through pollen foraging plays an important role in pollination and in the life of bee colonies that adjust their foraging to natural variation in pollen protein quality and temporal availability. Bumble bees occupy a wide range of habitats from the Nearctic to the Tropics in which they play an important role as pollinators. However, little is known about how...

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) collect and store both honey and pollen in preserved forms. Pollen storage involves the addition of honey or nectar and oral secretions to pollen granules. It is controversial whether the duration of pollen storage alters the palatability or nutritive value of the pollen storage medium. We examined how bees utilize different-aged stored pollen during an extended poll...

Summary Background. Volumetric pollen traps are commonly used to assess pollen exposure. These traps are well suited for estimating the regional mean airborne pollen concentration but are likely not to provide an accurate index of personal exposure. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that hair sampling may provide different pollen counts from those from pollen traps, especially when the po...

A phytase was isolated and partially purified from the pollen of Lilium longiflorum Thumb. Optimum activity was at pH 8.0. The phytase was activated by Ca(2+) and Sr(2+) but not by the other divalent cations tested. Activity was inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The phytase had a temperature optimum of 55 to 60 degrees C and an activation energy of about 12,700 calories/mole. Extraction...