Allergen molecules (synonyms: single allergens, allergen components) open up new horizons for the targeted allergen-specific diagnostics of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in singleplex determination. The following rationales support the targeted use of allergen molecules and, more importantly, improve test properties: (1) increased test sensitivity ("analytical sensitivity"), particularly when importan...

BACKGROUND Allergies to grass pollen are the number one cause of outdoor hay fever. The human immune system reacts with symptoms to allergen from pollen. OBJECTIVE We investigated the natural variability in release of the major group 5 allergen from grass pollen across Europe. METHODS Airborne pollen and allergens were simultaneously collected daily with a volumetric spore trap and a high-v...

BACKGROUND High-quality vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaner bags are often recommended to allergic patients as a means of reducing indoor allergen exposure. A number of vacuum cleaners on the market today claim to capture 99.9% of particles 0.3 microm or larger entering the vacuum cleaner, and many vacuum cleaner bags are now being sold as microfiltration bags. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this st...

Despite causing considerable damage to host tissue during the onset of parasitism, nematodes establish remarkably persistent infections in both animals and plants. It is thought that an elaborate repertoire of effector proteins in nematode secretions suppresses damage-triggered immune responses of the host. However, the nature and mode of action of most immunomodulatory compounds in nematode se...

BACKGROUND Allergen-induced late airway response offers important pharmacodynamic targets, including T helper 2 (TH2) biomarkers. However, detection of inflammatory markers has been limited in dithiothreitol-processed sputum. OBJECTIVES To test whether allergen-induced TH2 inflammatory markers can be reproducibly quantified by sensitive detection techniques in ultracentrifuged sputum and the ...

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...

d a r e ( t d Exposure and sensitization to indoor allergens are important risk factors for asthma.While the role of indoor allergen exposure in the development of allergic sensitization and the onset of asthma remains a subject of controversy, there is strong evidence that indoor allergens play a key role in exacerbation of existing asthma, particularly in sensitized individuals. In this suppl...

Although airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity are observed after allergen inhalation both in allergic humans and animals, little is known about the mechanisms by which inflammatory cells can contribute to allergen-induced airway hyperreactivity. To understand how inflammatory cell infiltration can contribute to airway hyperreactivity, the location of these cells within the airways may...

Asthma is a heterogeneous lung disorder characterized by airway obstruction, inflammation and eosinophil infiltration into the lung. Both genetics and environmental factors influence the expression of asthma, and not all asthma is the result of a specific immune response to allergen. Numerous asthma phenotypes have been described, including occupational asthma, and therapeutic strategies for as...

Priming of circulating human eosinophils following late response to allergen challenge. D.J. Evans, M.A. Lindsay, B.J. O'Connor, P.J. Barnes. ©ERS Journals Ltd 1996. ABSTRACT: The eosinophil is recognized as an important effector cell in asthma. To investigate the role of eosinophils in the aetiology of asthma, we have examined whether peripheral blood eosinophils are primed following whole-lun...