Nitration of pollen derived allergens can occur by NO(2) and ozone in polluted air and it has already been shown that nitrated major birch (Betula verrucosa) pollen allergen Bet v 1.0101 (Bet v 1) exhibits an increased potency to trigger an immune response. However, the mechanisms by which nitration might contribute to the induction of allergy are still unknown. In this study, we assessed the e...

Background Millions of patients with allergy to birch pollen develop clinically cross-reactive IgE against Bet v 1-like proteins in plant foods. Specific immunotherapy (SIT) with birch pollen extracts induces the biosynthesis of Bet v 1-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G4. IgG4 is believed to act as a blocking antibody preventing IgE binding to Bet v 1, thus alleviating allergic symptoms. Only littl...

BACKGROUND In contrast to other Bet v 1-related food allergens, the major carrot allergen, Dau c 1, has been suggested to induce food allergy independently from Bet v 1. As T cells are crucial in the sensitization process, we sought to characterize the T-cell response to Dau c 1 and its cross-reactivity with Bet v 1. METHODS Dau c 1-specific T-cell lines (TCL) and clones (TCC) established fro...

of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Floridsdorfer Allergiezentrum, Vienna, Austria. Background: Mung beans (Vigna radiata) contain 2 Bet v 1 related proteins: Vig r 1, a member of the PR-10 subfamily, and cytokinin-specific binding protein (CSBP), a protein with low sequence identity (31%) to Bet v 1. We aimed to compare Vig r 1 and CSBP to Bet v 1 regarding biochemical and immunological properties. Me...

In type I allergy, the cross-linking of membrane IgE on B lymphocytes and of cytophilic IgE on effector cells by their respective allergens are key events. For cross-linking two IgE molecules, allergens need at least two epitopes. On large molecules, these could be different epitopes in a multivalent, or identical epitopes in a symmetrical, fashion. However, the availability of epitopes may be ...

In Northern America and Europe a great number of people are suffering from birch pollen allergy and pollen related food allergies. The trigger for these immunological reactions is the 17.5 kDa major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, which belongs to the family of PR-10 (pathogenesis-related) proteins. In nature, Bet v 1 occurs as a mixture of various isoforms that possess different immunological p...

of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Floridsdorfer Allergiezentrum, Vienna, Austria. Background: Mung beans (Vigna radiata) contain 2 Bet v 1 related proteins: Vig r 1, a member of the PR-10 subfamily, and cytokinin-specific binding protein (CSBP), a protein with low sequence identity (31%) to Bet v 1. We aimed to compare Vig r 1 and CSBP to Bet v 1 regarding biochemical and immunological properties. Me...

Pollinosis to birch pollen is a common type I allergy in the Northern Hemisphere. Moreover, birch pollen-allergic individuals sensitized to the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 frequently develop allergic reactions to stone fruits, hazelnuts, and certain vegetables due to immunological cross-reactivity. The major T cell epitope Bet v 1(142-153) plays an important role in cross-reactivity bet...

of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Floridsdorfer Allergiezentrum, Vienna, Austria. Background: Mung beans (Vigna radiata) contain 2 Bet v 1 related proteins: Vig r 1, a member of the PR-10 subfamily, and cytokinin-specific binding protein (CSBP), a protein with low sequence identity (31%) to Bet v 1. We aimed to compare Vig r 1 and CSBP to Bet v 1 regarding biochemical and immunological properties. Me...

BACKGROUND Birch allergy (BA) is a common pollinosis caused by the allergens Bet v 1, Bet v 2, and Bet v 4. Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is frequently associated with BA. A gradient of sensitization to birch allergen across Europe has been reported. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the birch sensitization profile, including OAS, across Italy. METHODS We performed a retrospective stud...