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Immunological and structural similarities among allergens: Prerequisite for a specific and component‐based therapy of allergy
Author(s) -
VALENTA RUDOLF,
STEINBERGER PETER,
DUCHÊNE MICHAEL,
KRAFT DIETRICH
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1996.26
Subject(s) - allergen , immunoglobulin e , immunology , allergy , cross reactivity , epitope , sensitization , medicine , antibody , cross reactions
Summary It is known that allergic patients are frequently co‐sensitized against different allergen sources. Progress made in the field of allergen characterization by molecular biological techniques has now revealed that sensitization against different allergen sources can be explained as cross‐reactivity of IgE antibodies with structurally and immunologically related components present in these allergen sources. This review defines groups of cross‐reactive plant allergens with significant sequence homology. The similarities among allergens may facilitate allergy diagnosis by using a few representative cross‐reactive allergens to determine the patient's IgE reactivity profile (allergogram). According to that typing, a few cross‐reactive allergens, carrying most of the relevant IgE epitopes, may then be selected for patient‐tailored specific therapy.