Martin D Chapman

..We tested the use of recombinant variants of the major mouse allergen Mus m 1 in detection of mouse-specific antibodies in sera of laboratory animal workers and children...

..Such distinct patterns of IgE-IgG responsiveness to different cockroach allergens highlight the complexity of B-cell responses to environmental allergens...

..Molecular standardization will form the basis of new allergy diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as assessment of environmental exposure, and will improve the quality of treatment options for allergic patients...

..Structural biology and proteomics define recombinant allergen targets for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and identify motifs, patterns, and structures of immunologic significance...

..Thus although mite proteases allergens may act as Th2 adjuvants, a paradoxical effect is that other allergens may elicit strong Th2 responses in the absence of enzyme activity...

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..The molecule H22-Fel d 1, which targets cat allergen to FcgammaRI on dendritic cells (DCs), has the potential to treat cat allergy because of its T-cell modulatory properties...

..Mutations of the contact residues abrogate mAb 4C1 binding and reduce IgE antibody binding. These surface-exposed residues are molecular targets that can be exploited for development of recombinant allergen vaccines...

..The structure and function of Alt a 1 is unknown...

..This study evaluated intra- and inter-laboratory reproducibility of a fluorescent multiplex array, which simultaneously measures eight indoor allergens in a single reaction well...

..Induction of CD4+ T cells that produce IL-10 or IFN-gamma is central to the protective effects of conventional allergen immunotherapy...

..The conformational epitopes for two specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that interfere with IgE antibody binding were identified by X-ray crystallography on opposite sites of the quasi-symmetrical cockroach allergen Bla g 2...

..CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Bla g 6 homologous allergens may occur among other insects and cause cosensitization or allergenic cross-reactivity...

..Testing serum samples for total and allergen-specific IgE requires separate testing for each antibody and allergen specificity...

..This uneven spatial arrangement of conserved versus altered residues could explain both the specificity and cross-reactivity of antibodies against Der f 1 and Der p 1...

..Expression of TSLP receptor on the surface of activated T(H)2 cells could amplify T(H)2 responses at inflamed sites through the direct actions of TSLP...

..Peanut allergy is an important health problem in the United States, affecting approximately 0.6% of children. Inadvertent exposure to peanut is a risk factor for life-threatening food-induced anaphylaxis...

..The rBla g 1 is suitable for structural studies and a candidate for clinical use in diagnosis of cockroach allergy and development of new forms of immunotherapy...

..The rFel d 1 can be targeted to antigen-presenting cells through CD64. These constructs will facilitate structural studies of Fel d 1 and the development of improved allergy diagnostics and therapeutics...

..Bla g 2 is a potent cockroach allergen, but despite sharing sequence homology with aspartic proteinases, it contains critical amino acid substitutions that impair proteolytic activity. The biologic function of Bla g 2 remains unclear...

..Current enzyme immunoassay methods for detection of common indoor allergens in environmental dust samples are labor-intensive and time consuming...

..The results show dissociation between enzymatic activity and allergenicity for Bla g 2 and suggest that other genetic and environmental factors are important determinants of sensitization...

..These include peptide-based vaccines, engineered hypoallergens with reduced reactivity for IgE antibodies, nucleotide-conjugated vaccines that promote Th1 responses, and the possibility of developing prophylactic allergen vaccines...

..The association between asthma and atopy seen in the town of Thika may represent an important step in the increase in asthma seen both in urban Africa and in the West...

..Mite and cockroach allergens have distinct and opposite associations with socioeconomic factors and population density...

..99; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: A highly sensitive ELISA has been developed with rMus m 1. This assay is suitable for monitoring domestic and environmental exposure to mouse urinary allergens...

..We have now identified key residues involved in IgE antibody binding; this information will be useful for the design of vaccines for immunotherapy...

..Rhinovirus was not associated with wheezing and did not appear to be a trigger for asthma exacerbations...

..It is important to establish the degree of exposure, and to evaluate whether allergen control measures are effective in a particular area...

..Knowledge of past pet ownership can improve pet allergen exposure assessment by means of questionnaire. However, for epidemiologic purposes, measured concentrations of allergens are necessary...

..We were not able to detect airborne allergen in many simulated environments...

..Evidence indicates that infection with Ascaris lumbricoides may promote development of allergy and asthma...

..Breast-feeding for at least 1 month was a protective factor. A strong association between allergic sensitization and persistence of wheezing was found in a group of very young children living in a subtropical area...

..Five disulfide bridges and a Zn-binding site confer stability to the protein, which may contribute to sensitization at lower levels of exposure than other allergens...

..Exposure to food allergens through saliva (kissing, utensils) can cause local and systemic allergic reactions...

..The Phase II project will result in the development of consumer based allergen tests that will improve asthma management using environmental control procedures. ..