BACKGROUND We have developed a recombinant B cell epitope-based vaccine (BM32) for allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) of grass pollen allergy. The vaccine contains recombinant fusion proteins consisting of allergen-derived peptides and the hepatitis B surface protein domain preS as immunological carrier. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled AIT study to deter...

pollen from mesquite (prosopis juliflora) is one of the important causes of immediate hypersensitivity reactions in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. the aim of present study is to produce and purify the recombinant form of allergenic ole e 1-like protein from the pollen of this allergenic tree. immunological and cross-inhibition assays were performed for the evaluation of ige-bindin...

BACKGROUND Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) is characterised by an inflammation consequent to allergen exposure. Nitric oxide may be involved in allergic inflammation. OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the serum nitrite concentrations in SAR patients during and outside pollen exposure in order to estimate activity of nitric oxide synthases. METHODS One hundred and two (56 females, 46 males, me...

BACKGROUND Exposure to formaldehyde may lead to exacerbation of asthma. OBJECTIVES Our aim in this study was to investigate whether exposure to a low level (500 microg/m(3)) of formaldehyde enhances inhaled allergen responses. METHODS Twelve subjects with intermittent asthma and allergy to pollen were exposed, at rest, in a double-blind crossover study to either formaldehyde or purified air...

INTRODUCTION Exposure to airborne pollen from certain plants can cause allergic disease, but allergens can also be found in non-pollen-bearing fractions of ambient air. This may explain why the allergic response in susceptible patients does not always coincide with the presence and magnitude of airborne pollen counts. Plantago pollen is an important cause of pollinosis in northern Mediterranean...

Recently, the concept of local allergic rhinitis (LAR) was established, namely rhinitis symptoms with local IgE production and negative serum antigen-specific IgE. However, the natural course of LAR development and the disease pathogenesis is poorly understood. This study investigated the pathophysiology of mice with allergic rhinitis that initially sensitized with ragweed pollen through the na...

BACKGROUND Evidence is compelling for a positive correlation between climate change, urbanisation and prevalence of allergic sensitisation and diseases. The reason for this association is not clear to date. Some data point to a pro-allergenic effect of anthropogenic factors on susceptible individuals. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the impact of urbanisation and climate change on pollen allergenicity...

BACKGROUND The cultivation of saffron is expanding through the southeast of Iran, and allergy to saffron pollen occurs in workers involved in processing this plant. We aimed to clone, sequence and express a major allergen involved in saffron pollen allergy, and to compare the recombinant with the natural allergen. METHODS The N-terminal amino acid sequence of Cro s 1, an allergen from saffron...

Asthma and allergic diseases cases have risen in recent decades. Plant pollen is considered as the main aeroallergen causing allergic reactions. According to available data, urban residents experience more respiratory allergies than rural residents mainly due to the interaction between chemical air pollutants and pollen grains. This interaction can occur through several mechanisms; chemical pol...

We investigated the effects of NO2 and allergen on lung function in a repeated exposure model. For 4 subsequent days, 16 subjects with mild asthma and allergy to birch or grass pollen were exposed at rest to either purified air or 500 microg x m(-3) NO2 for 30 min in an exposure chamber. Four hours later, an individually determined nonsymptomatic allergen dose was inhaled. Lung function (forced...