Marina Perez-Gordo

Identification of sole parvalbumin as a major allergen: study of cross-reactivity between parvalbumins in a Spanish fish-allergic population.

Background Fish allergy is becoming an important health problem in Spain, a country with the third highest level of fish consumption after Japan and Portugal. The most common fish allergens are parvalbumins. In our area, the most widely consumed fish species are lean, such as whiff (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) and sole (Solea solea). Adverse reactions to fish are usually related to these species, a fact that is largely unknown to allergists in other countries.

Epitope mapping of the major allergen from Atlantic cod in Spanish population reveals different IgE-binding patterns.

SCOPE IgE-epitope mapping of allergens reveal important information about antigen components involved in allergic reactions. The peptide-based microarray immunoassay has been used to map epitopes of some food allergens. We developed a peptide microarray immunoassay to map allergenic epitopes in parvalbumin from Atlantic cod (Gad m 1), the most consumed cod species in Spain. METHODS AND RESULTS Sera from 13 fish-allergic patients with specific IgE to cod parvalbumin were used. A library of overlapping peptides was synthesized, representing the primary sequence of Gad m 1. Peptides were used to analyze allergen-specific IgE antibodies in patient sera. 100% of the patients recognized one antigenic region of 15 amino acids in length in Gad m 1. This region only partially correlated with one of the three antigenic determinants of Gad c 1 (Allergen M), parvalbumin from Baltic cod (Gadus callarias). In the 3D model of the protein, this region was located on the surface of the protein. CONCLUSION We have identified a relevant antigenic region in Gad m 1. This epitope could be considered as a severity marker and provides additional information to improve fish allergy diagnosis and the design of safe immunotherapeutic tools.

Allergy to uncommon pets: new allergies but the same allergens.

The prevalence of exotic pet allergies has been increasing over the last decade. Years ago, the main allergy-causing domestic animals were dogs and cats, although nowadays there is an increasing number of allergic diseases related to insects, rodents, amphibians, fish, and birds, among others. The current socio-economic situation, in which more and more people have to live in small apartments, might be related to this tendency. The main allergic symptoms related to exotic pets are the same as those described for dog and cat allergy: respiratory symptoms. Animal allergens are therefore, important sensitizing agents and an important risk factor for asthma. There are three main protein families implicated in these allergies, which are the lipocalin superfamily, serum albumin family, and secretoglobin superfamily. Detailed knowledge of the characteristics of allergens is crucial to improvement treatment of uncommon-pet allergies.

Allergic Asthma: An Overview of Metabolomic Strategies leading to the Identification of Biomarkers in the Field

Allergic asthma is a prominent disease especially during childhood. Indoor allergens, in general, and particularly house dust mites (HDM) are the most prevalent sensitizers associated with allergic asthma. Available data show that 65–130 million people are mite‐sensitized world‐wide and as many as 50% of these are asthmatic. In fact, sensitization to HDM in the first years of life can produce devastating effects on pulmonary function leading to asthmatic syndromes that can be fatal. To date, there has been considerable research into the pathological pathways and structural changes associated with allergic asthma. However, limitations related to the disease heterogeneity and a lack of knowledge into its pathophysiology have impeded the generation of valuable data needed to appropriately phenotype patients and, subsequently, treat this disease. Here, we report a systematic and integral analysis of the disease, from airway remodelling to the immune response taking place throughout the disease stages. We present an overview of metabolomics, the management of complex multifactorial diseases through the analysis of all possible metabolites in a biological sample, obtaining a global interpretation of biological systems. Special interest is placed on the challenges to obtain biological samples and the methodological aspects to acquire relevant information, focusing on the identification of novel biomarkers associated with specific phenotypes of allergic asthma. We also present an overview of the metabolites cited in the literature, which have been related to inflammation and immune response in asthma and other allergy‐related diseases.

Novel liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for sensitive determination of the mustard allergen Sin a 1 in food

Mustard is a condiment added to a variety of foodstuffs and a frequent cause of food allergy. A new strategy for the detection of mustard allergen in food products is presented. The methodology is based on liquid chromatography analysis coupled to mass spectrometry. Mustard allergen Sin a 1 was purified from yellow mustard seeds. Sin a 1 was detected with a total of five peptides showing a linear response (lowest LOD was 5ng). Sin a 1 was detected in mustard sauces and salty biscuit (19±3mg/kg) where mustard content is not specified. Sin a 1, used as an internal standard, allowed quantification of this mustard allergen in foods. A novel LC/MS/MS SRM-based method has been developed to detect and quantify the presence of mustard. This method could help to detect mustard allergen Sin a 1 in processed foods and protect mustard-allergic consumers.

Microbiome and Allergic Diseases

Allergic diseases, such as respiratory, cutaneous, and food allergy, have dramatically increased in prevalence over the last few decades. Recent research points to a central role of the microbiome, which is highly influenced by multiple environmental and dietary factors. It is well established that the microbiome can modulate the immune response, from cellular development to organ and tissue formation exerting its effects through multiple interactions with both the innate and acquired branches of the immune system. It has been described at some extent changes in environment and nutrition produce dysbiosis in the gut but also in the skin, and lung microbiome, inducing qualitative and quantitative changes in composition and metabolic activity. Here, we review the potential role of the skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiomes in allergic diseases. In the GIT, the microbiome has been proven to be important in developing either effector or tolerant responses to different antigens by balancing the activities of Th1 and Th2 cells. In the lung, the microbiome may play a role in driving asthma endotype polarization, by adjusting the balance between Th2 and Th17 patterns. Bacterial dysbiosis is associated with chronic inflammatory disorders of the skin, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Thus, the microbiome can be considered a therapeutical target for treating inflammatory diseases, such as allergy. Despite some limitations, interventions with probiotics, prebiotics, and/or synbiotics seem promising for the development of a preventive therapy by restoring altered microbiome functionality, or as an adjuvant in specific immunotherapy.

Allergen Extraction and Purification from Natural Products: Main Chromatographic Techniques

The development of techniques and methods for allergen purification is essential for diagnosis and the development of safe immunotherapeutic agents. The most common purification techniques include chromatographic methodologies. In this chapter, we review and describe the details of the methodologies of using ion-exchange, gel-filtration, and affinity chromatography to purify two well-known panallergens, profilin and parvalbumin.

Answer to: “Biomarkers in Allergic Asthma: Which Matrix Should We Use?”

We appreciate comments from Dr. M. Maniscalco and A. Motta on our review article [1]. The comments made on the matter about which biological matrix(ces) should be used in the quest of biomarkers in allergic asthma are well accepted. However, we would like to open the discussion about the topics exposed by the authors. Definitely, asthma is a very complex disease which presents heterogeneous clinical symptoms and multiple causes. Presenting diverse sub-phenotypes, to date there is not enough information to characterize them in the clinical setting [2, 3]. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Corrigendum to "Novel liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for sensitive determination of the mustard allergen Sin a 1 in food" [Food Chem. 183 (2015) 58-63].

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.03.090 0308-8146/ 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI of original article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.02.139 ⇑ Corresponding author at: Department of Immunology, Hospital Fundación Jimenez Diaz, Avda. Reyes Católicos 2, 28040 Madrid, Spain. E-mail address: cpastor@fjd.es (C. Pastor-Vargas). Maria Posada-Ayala , Gloria Alvarez-Llamas , Aroa S. Maroto , Xavier Maes , Esther Muñoz-Garcia , Mayte Villalba , Rosalía Rodríguez , Marina Perez-Gordo , Fernando Vivanco , Carlos Pastor-Vargas a,⇑, Javier Cuesta-Herranz e