Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, an abundant commensal of the human gut, degrades numerous complex carbohydrates. Recently, it was reported to grow on a β-2,6-linked polyfructan levan produced by Zymomonas mobilis degrading the polymer into fructooligosaccharides (FOS) with a cell surface bound endo-levanase BT1760. The FOS are consumed by B. thetaiotaomicron, but also by other gut bacteria, inclu...

BACKGROUND European studies provide a preponderance of evidence for sublingual allergen immunotherapy (SLIT) safety and efficacy, but they use allergen products that differ from those expected to be approved in the United States. OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and tolerability of 4 US-licensed standardized SLIT allergenic extracts. METHODS Adults 18 to 50 years old with allergic rhinitis...

Type I allergy is a major health problem in industrialized countries where up to 15% of the population suffer from allergic symptoms (rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma). Previously, we identified a cDNA clone that encoded a birch pollen allergen as profilin. Profilins constitute a ubiquitous family of proteins that control actin polymerization in eukaryotic cells; in particular, profilin par...

Seed-borne Epichloë/Neotyphodium Glenn, Bacon, Hanlin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) fungal endophytes in temperate grasses can provide protection against insect attack with the degree of host resistance related to the grass-endophyte symbiotum and the insect species involved in an interaction. Few experimental studies with wild grass-endophyte symbiota, compared to endophyte-infect...

Summary Introduction. Phleum pratense (Timothy grass) is the most frequent cause of grass allergy in Europe. Molecular-based allergy diagnostics have been recently introduced in the clinical practice, allowing to define and characterize exactly the sensitization profile. Aim of the study. The present study was aimed to investigate the possible relationships between Graminaceae pollen data and t...

BACKGROUND Air pollution is frequently proposed as a potential cause of the increased incidence of allergy in industrialised countries. Our objective was to investigate the impact of the major gaseous air pollutants on grass pollen allergens. METHODS Timothy grass pollen was exposed to ozone (O(3)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) and sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) alone or in combination. Allergen content...