FROM ALLERGEN BACK TO ANTIGEN: A RATIONAL APPROACH TO NEW FORMS OF IMMUNOTHERAPY

2007

A Hybrid Expressing Genetically Engineered Major Allergens of the <i>Parietaria</i> Pollen as a Tool for Specific Allergy Vaccination

2006

<i>Background:</i> Allergy is an immunological disorder affecting about 25% of the population living in the industrialized countries. Specific immunotherapy is the only treatment with a long-lasting relief of allergic symptoms and able to reduce the risk of developing new allergic sensitizations and inhibiting the development of clinical asthma in children treated for allergic rhinitis. <i>Methods:</i> By means of DNA recombinant technology, we were able to design a head to tail dimer expressing disulphide bond variants of the major allergen of the <i>Parietaria </i>pollen. IgE binding activity was studied by Western blot, ELISA inhibition assays and the …

Antigens of <i>Euparipha pisana</i> (Snail)

1988

The data obtained in this study suggest that eating <i>Euparipha pisana</i> (snail), a common food in Mediterranean countries, could give serious allergic reaction such as asthma. We describe here the identification and partial characterization of allergenic molecules form this new source. An aqueous extract of snail was obtained by homogenization in distilled water, centrifugation, dialysis and defatting with ethyl ether. Skin prick test (SPT) performed with the snail extract on 70 subjects allergic to the more common allergens of the Mediterranean area gave a SPT positivity in 61% of the subjects tested, with a mean value of histamine-equivalent prick (HEP) equal to 0.81 ± 0.2…