The allergenic structure of allergen M from cod. I. Tryptic peptides of fragment TM 1.

In attempts to locate the allergenic active sites of fragment TM 1 of allergen M from cod, the allergenicity of the tryptic hydrolysis peptides was examined both in vivo and in vitro. A duodecapeptide (residues No. 33-44) was tentatively suggested to incorporate at least one allergenic determinant. All the tryptic peptides were less active than allergen M as shown by the in vivo titration experiments. The activity of the peptides was not due to contamination of intact allergens.     

Comparison of outdoor allergenic particles and allergen levels.

INTRODUCTION: Spore and pollen counts have been used traditionally to determine aeroallergen exposure. Using a liquid based collector and enzyme immunoassays, we have developed methods for measuring airborne allergen concentrations. In this work we test the hypothesis that airborne allergen concentrations are directly related to spore and pollen counts. METHODS: Test samplers used included a high-volume cyclonic liquid impinger (SpinCon) and a standard spore trap (Burkard). Samples were collected on a weekly basis from May to October and were analyzed microscopically for spores and pollen grains. The liquid samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunoassay for the presence of allergens from Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aspergillus, oak, fescue, ragweed, and plantain. Specific Alternaria allergens Alt al and GP70 also were measured. RESULTS: Pollen counts for the SpinCon and Burkard collectors were similar, though spore counts were lower with the SpinCon. Detectable amounts of three of the seven allergenic species including fescue, ragweed, and Alternaria were present in air samples. Concentrations of pollens were seen in their respective seasons while fungal allergen levels varied throughout the period. Allergen levels generally agreed with particle counts, however peak allergen levels and peak particle counts for individual species did not correlate well. CONCLUSIONS: At flow rates of 236 L/min, the SpinCon is comparable to the Burkard for counting airborne pollen and spores. Samples collected by the SpinCon permit quantitative determination of allergen levels in outdoor air. The poor correlation between measured airborne allergen and related particles indicates the potential for significant allergen exposure in the absence of identifiable particles in air.     

Studies on the biochemical structure of the major cat allergen Felis domesticus I.

The major cat allergen, Fel d I, was purified to homogeneity from cat dander extract by sequential mAb affinity chromatography and HPLC size exclusion. The purity and allergenic activity of the preparation was demonstrated by different techniques such as HPLC, RAST inhibition, skin prick tests and CIE/CRIE. Fel d I showed a mol. wt of about 35,000 by HPLC gel filtration and of 18,000 by SDS-PAGE, confirming that it is a non-covalently linked dimer. However, SDS-PAGE analysis under reducing conditions as well as labelling experiments with 14C-iodoacetamide of 2-ME-reduced Fel d I showed that each mol. wt 18,000 monomer is comprised of two covalently S-S bound polypeptides with apparent mol. wt. of 4000 (alpha-chain) and 14,000 (beta-chain). Reduction and alkylation of Fel d I obliterated most of its allergenic activity, as determined by RAST inhibition and immunoblotting, suggesting that most of the IgE-binding sites are conformational. On the other hand, treatment of Fel d I by N-glycanase under reducing and non-reducing conditions indicated the presence of N-linked oligosaccharides in the beta-chain. Carbohydrate analysis data of the whole Fel d I molecule showed the presence of a relatively high carbohydrate content (approximately 20%). RAST inhibition experiments of native and deglycosilated allergen suggest that most IgE epitopes are located in the protein moiety of the molecule. However, the deglycosilated allergen showed a 2-4 fold reduction in its inhibition capacity of RAST as compared to the native allergen, suggesting that carbohydrates could have some role in keeping the active conformation of those epitopes. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the beta-chain (20 residues) and most of the alpha-chain (40 residues) were determined. Both chain sequences showed no homology with other known protein sequences.     

Studies on Alternaria allergens: III. Isolation of a major allergenic fraction (ALT-I)

The allergens present in crude Alternaria alternata extract were fractionated by sequential ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, preparative flat-bed electrofocusing, and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. The carbohydrate-rich fraction isolated (Alt-I) was heterogeneous by polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis and by thin-layer electrofocusing. By preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the Alt-I fraction could be further separated into at least five subfractions, all of which contained similar allergenic activity. Significant elevations in IgE antibody to Alt-I were found in $\text{21}\text{25}$ patients with asthma having positive skin tests to crude Alternaria extract but were not found in 15 patients with non-IgE-mediated asthma. Alt-I appears to contain glycoproteins (7% N) and is a major allergenic fraction of Alternaria.     

The major allergen content of allergenic preparations reflects their biological activity

The content of major allergens in biologically standardized allergenic preparations of birch, mite (Der p) , cat, Alternaria (Alt a) and ragweed (Amb e) was determined. It was found fairly constant between species , i.e. varied within a factor of 2, with the exception of Alt a 1 in Alternaria alternata extract. This variation is allowed by authorities between different batches prepared from the same species of allergen. The method for biological standardization (BS) prescribed in the Nordic Guidelines has, for common inhalant allergens, been shown to give reproducible results between regions of Europe. However, it is difficult to define patients suitable for BS of most food allergens as well as less common inhalant allergens. Therefore we propose that, in the future, BS is replaced by determination of well-established major allergens and that 1 ng of major allergen is given the value of 1 Biological Unit.
Clinical aspects
Clinicians have had difficulties in understanding differences and similarities between units used by manufacturers for labelling of allergenic extracts. Biological standardization is time-consuming and expensive. Probably therefore, and to avoid comparison with extracts prepared by other manufacturers, most manufacturers have used their own units and few of them have used the biological units as defined by the Nordic Guidelines or FDA. Determination of the amount of major allergen by ELISA is simple and cheap. However, the biological relevance of major allergen content has not been established. Our results clearly indicate the possibility of replacing biological units by major allergen content, provided the composition of allergens is adequate. The major allergen content can easily be declared by all manufacturers. In the future, manufacturers should be forced to declare the major allergen content, thus making it easier for clinicians to compare extracts from different suppliers.     

模拟鼠伤寒脂多糖表位合成肽的初步研究

目的 探讨3种模拟LPS表位的合成肽的抗原性。方法固相合成模拟LPS表位的线性十二肽P12(GPPQW-FFSQPQL)、环七肽13a(SACPSWASFWCGG)和13b(SACFQFTYPAACGG),与钥孔嘁血蓝蛋白或蓝载体交联,ELISA鉴定合成肽-载体交联物与抗LPS抗体的反应性,竞争ELISA鉴定游离的合成肽对抗LPS抗体与LPS、表达LPS模拟位的阳性噬菌体克隆结合的抑制。结果合成肽-载体交联物可与LPS抗体结合;游离环七肽13a可抑制抗LPS单克隆抗体与LPS结合(IC50=125μg／mL)及抗LPS单克隆抗体与阳性噬菌体克隆K1的结合(IC50=15．6μg/mL);游离十二肽P12抑制抗LPS单克隆抗体与LPS结合(IC50=550μg/mL)及阳性噬菌体克隆P12与抗LPS单克隆抗体结合(IC50=375μg／mL);游离环七肽13b可抑制噬菌体克隆P4和LPS多克隆抗体的结合(IC50=31．25μg／mL)。结论模拟LPS表位的合成肽可模拟LPS表位的抗原性,环肽优于线性肽。     

Denaturization of allergen P: effect on allergenicity, antigenicity and immunogenicity.

When allergen P was denatured by 8M urea, the modified molecule still reacted with IgE specific for the native allergen but not with hemagglutinating antibodies. Heating at 100 degrees C abolished the reaction in both cases. The results suggested differences between allergenic and antigenic capacities which may be based on structural differences of the antigenic determinants.     

The group III allergen from the house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is a trypsin-like enzyme.

Faecally enriched extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were shown to contain a trypsin-like enzyme which was allergenic. Chromatofocusing studies revealed the presence of nine major isoforms in D. pteronyssinus, with pI in the range 4 to greater than 8, but only two (range 4-5) in D. farinae. Trypsin isolated from D. pteronyssinus by benzamidine-Sepharose 6B affinity chromatography and gelfiltration was found to be a 31-kDa protein which was enzymatically similar to both invertebrate and vertebrate trypsins. The N-terminal sequence obtained (IVGGEXALAGEXPYQISL) was identical to that reported for the mite allergen Der p III and showed homology with crayfish trypsin and Der f III from D. farinae. Mite trypsin underwent autolysis and the N-terminal sequences of two fragments were found to be ALAGEXPYQI and NNQVXGI respectively. Both showed homology with crayfish trypsin, and the former sequence was identical to residues 7-18 of the native enzyme and Der p III. All isoforms of mite trypsin were showed to be allergenic by radioallergosorbent assay and further studies indicated that the trypsin degradation products were also allergenic. The enzyme was compared with other mite allergens and the rank order of allergenic potency was shown to be: whole mite extract greater than Der p I greater than trypsin. However, all sera from a panel of mite allergic individuals showed IgE reactivity to trypsin, comparable to that seen using whole mite extract and Der p I. These data indicate that mite trypsin is a major allergen corresponding to the previously described allergen, Der p III.     

人造血液基质聚合牛血红蛋白的抗原性研究

目的 通过动物实验,推导人造血液基质聚合牛血红蛋白（poly-BHb)输入人体后可能引起的免疫反应。方法 制备兔抗人Hb、兔Hb和poly-BHb的抗体,研究对兔而言这3种Hb的抗原性的强弱和它们之间抗原性的交叉程度。将大量poly-BHb溶液输入家兔体内,观察家兔的免疫反应。通过计算机模拟,比较天然人、兔、牛Hb之间氨基酸序列、空间结构和抗原位点的差异。结果 天然牛Hb与人Hb分子的构象几乎一致,poly-BHb与人Hb有高度相似的抗原性。poly-HBb反复大量输入家兔休丙未能测出抗体。结论 从结果初步推论,poly-BHb溶液有限次数输入人体,引起免疫反应的可能性较小,但尚需要更多的试验及人体安全性试验加以证实。     

Monoclonal antibodies against Olea europaea major allergen: allergenic activity of affinity-purified allergen and depleted extract and development of a radioimmunoassay for the quantitation of the allergen.

Several monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were raised against Olea europaea pollen-extract components. Two of these antibodies, named OL 2 and OL 7, recognize two nonoverlapping, nonrepeating epitopes on the olive-allergen Ole e I, as demonstrated by different techniques. The allergen was purified in a single step by MAb-based affinity chromatography, and the allergen revealed a band at molecular weight 20 kd as well as a minor band at 18 kd on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The contribution of allergen Ole e I to the allergenic activity of O. europaea pollen extracts was determined from the effect of allergen depletion by affinity chromatography on skin reactivity and a histamine-release test. The removal of allergen caused a large reduction in the activity of the preparation in 25 monospecific olive-allergic patients. In agreement, the affinity-purified allergen demonstrated a similar response when it was compared with the whole extract in these assays. The results indicated that Ole e I is by far the most important olive-pollen allergen. A two-site solid-phase radioimmunoassay was developed for the quantitation of the allergen Ole e I in mass units. The assay was based on the MAbs, OL 2 and OL 7, and had a detection limit in the nanogram range. A good correlation was found between allergenic activity, as determined by RAST inhibition, and allergen content in 18 olive-pollen extracts. This result indicates that the assay can be a good alternative to RAST inhibition for the standardization of O. europaea extracts.     

Studies on allergenic algae of Delhi area: botanical aspects.

To study distribution of algae in and around Delhi aerobiological surveys were undertaken for two consecutive years (September, 1972, to August, 1974). The surveys were accomplished by (a) slide exposure method and (b) culture plate exposure method. A total of 850 slides were exposed using Durham's gravity sampling device. Of these, 560 slides were exposed during 1973 (272 slides at two meter and 288 at ten meter height) and the rest (290 slides) were exposed during 1974 at ten meter height. A total of 858 culture plates were exposed (276 for one hour and 282 for two hours) during 1973 and the rest (300 culture plates) were exposed during 1974 at ten meter height for two hours duration only. Air was found to be rich in algae flora during the months of September to November. The dominant forms of algae present were all blue greens. This might be due to the relative greater resistance of blue green algae to unfavorable conditions.     

Mutant derivatives of the main respiratory allergen of cow are less allergenic than the intact molecule.

BACKGROUND: Allergen immunotherapy offers an alternative for drug treatment in the management of allergic diseases. Because immunotherapy often induces side-effects, less allergenic preparations would be beneficial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the allergenicity of a cow-derived lipocalin allergen, Bos d 2, could be diminished by substituting or deleting carboxy-terminal amino acids including the cysteine which forms a disulphide bond with a cysteine inside the molecule. METHODS: Four recombinant mutants of Bos d 2 were created by substituting or deleting the four most carboxy-terminal amino acids. The immunological characteristics of the mutant preparations were compared with the unmodified rBos d 2 by Western blotting, ELISA inhibition, skin prick tests, and the proliferative responses of allergen-specific T-cell clones. RESULTS: In Western blot, one of the two monoclonal antibodies showed reduced binding to the preparations without the terminal cysteine. In contrast, the other monoclonal antibody, human IgE and rabbit immune serum bound equally well to all the preparations. ELISA inhibition analyses revealed, however, that the preparations without the terminal cysteine bound antibody less efficiently. They were needed 15-38 times more than the unmodified rBos d 2 to cause the same level of inhibition. Surprisingly, one of the mutants with the terminal cysteine but a mutated adjacent amino acid turned out to be the weakest in inducing skin reactivity. All the preparations stimulated well allergen-specific T-cell clones. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the allergenicity of a lipocalin allergen, Bos d 2, can be diminished by modifying the carboxy-terminal end of the molecule. Modifications in the area which encompasses a disulphide bond impaired the antibody binding without affecting the T-cell stimulatory capacity. It was also shown that in vivo tests are necessary for determining the allergenicity of a modified allergen.     

Studies on the relationship between structure and IgE-binding ability of Parietaria judaica allergen I

The main allergen of Parietaria judaica pollen, Par j I, is a glycopolypeptide with mol. wt about 10,000. It shows a considerable charge heterogeneity which is mostly due to the carbohydrate prosthetic groups, since treatment with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid yielded a deglycosylated protein with 8500 mol. wt that displayed only a few bands on IEF, in a narrow pH-region around 5.0. Deglycosylated Par j I exhibited a specific allergenic activity slightly lower than that of native Par j I; however, no allergenic determinants should be located on the sugar moiety since both native and deglycosylated Par j I inhibited up to a similar extent the binding of specific human IgE to P. judaica-coated wells in ELISA. The decrease of specific allergenic activity following deglycosylation could be ascribed to conformational changes evidenced by CD experiments. On the other hand, fluorescence spectroscopy showed that Par j I bears unidentified yellow-brown chromophores strongly linked to the polypeptide chain. These chromophores were not removed by TFMS treatment. Finally, reduction and alkylation caused the complete loss of allergenic activity, showing that disulphide bridges are essential for the IgE-binding ability of Par j I.