R. Rodríguez

1,3‐β‐glucanases as candidates in latex–pollen–vegetable food cross‐reactivity

Background 1,3‐β‐glucanases (group 2 of pathogenesis‐related proteins) are enzymes widely distributed among higher plants and have been recently proven to be significant allergens.

Component-resolved diagnosis of pollen allergy based on skin testing with profilin, polcalcin and lipid transfer protein pan-allergens

Background Allergy diagnosis needs to be improved in patients suffering from pollen polysensitization due to the existence of possible confounding factors in this type of patients.

Olive-pollen profilin. Molecular and immunologic properties

Olive‐pollen profilin has been isolated and characterized as a significant allergen. Its molecular properties, such as a molecular mass of 15 kDa; amino‐acid composition; and secondary repetitive structure percentages of 15%α‐helix, 33%β‐strand, 20%β‐turn, and 32% random coil, have been determined. Its allergenic capability, a recognition frequency estimated at 24% of olive‐hypersensitive patients, and high cross‐reactivity with all the pollen used have been found. The presence of conformational epitopes in the olive profilin, as well as a high structural and immunologic similarity to other pollen sources such as birch and ash, can be established from these studies.

Allergenic diversity of the olive pollen

A great number of allergenic proteins have been detected in olive pollen extracts. To date, nine allergens have been isolated and characterized, which have been called Ole e 1 to Ole e 9. The most prevalent olive allergen is Ole e 1, which affects more than 70% of patients hypersensitive to olive pollen, but others, such as Ole e 2, Ole e 8, and Ole e 9, have been demonstrated to be major allergens, and Ole e 6 or Ole e 7 reach high values of clinical incidence. Many of these allergens, such as Ole e 2 (profilin) and Ole e 3 (polcalcin), are involved in cross‐reactivities, which agrees with their adscription to panallergenic families. Among the many olive allergens of high molecular mass, only Ole e 9 (46 kDa) has been characterized. The allergen is a polymorphic and glycosylated β‐1,3‐glucanase, which belongs to a pathogenesis‐related (PR‐2) protein family. In addition to the polypeptide epitopes, Ole e 1 also exhibits IgE‐binding determinants in the carbohydrate, which are recognized by more than 60% of the sera from patients sensitive to the whole allergen, although the level of such glycan‐specific IgE seems not to be clinically relevant in the overall content of the sera. Recent advances in the elucidation of the structure of the Ole e 1‐oligosaccharide component allows us to explain the antigenicity of the molecule. Finally, the recombinant production of several allergens from olive pollen in both bacterial and eukaryotic cells has allowed us to resolve problems derived from the polymorphism and scarcity of the natural forms of these allergens. The biological equivalence between the natural and recombinant forms lets us initiate studies on the design of mixtures for clinical purposes, in which hypoallergenic derivatives of these allergens could play a definitive role.

Detection, isolation and complete amino acid sequence of an aeroallergenic protein from rapeseed flour

Background Seed proteins have been found to cause hypersensitivity by ingestion or inhalation. Rapeseed fiour was responsible for allergic symptoms in a patient, who develops into allergy to mustard spice.

A comparative analysis of the cross‐reactivity in the polcalcin family including Syr v 3, a new member from lilac pollen

Background:  Polcalcins are pollen‐specific allergens with two EF‐hand calcium‐binding sites that exhibit strong cross‐reactivity. Our objective was to isolate and express the cDNA coding of the EF‐hand calcium‐binding allergen from lilac pollen and to study cross‐reactivity with other polcalcins from related and nonrelated pollen sources with different specific antibodies and sera from two different populations.

A pectin methylesterase as an allergenic marker for the sensitization to Russian thistle (Salsola kali) pollen.

Background Chenopodiaceae pollen is considered the main cause of pollen allergy in desert countries and its incidence is world‐wide increasing by the desertization of extensive zones. Although the correlation between the sensitization to Chenopodium album and Salsola kali pollens of patients suffering from allergy to Chenopodiaceae pollens is high, a significant number of patients exhibited IgE sensitivity exclusively towards S. kali.

Are Ca2+‐binding motifs involved in the immunoglobin E‐binding of allergens? Olive pollen allergens as model of study

Background Several Ca2+‐binding proteins, which possess EF‐hand sites with a high sequence similarity, have been found to be able to induce Type‐I allergy.

Olive allergen-specific IgE responses in patients with Olea europaea pollinosis.

Background Olive tree (Olea europaea) pollen is an important cause of pollinosis in the countries of the Mediterranean area.

Intranasal vaccination with poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles containing a peptide T of Ole e 1 prevents mice against sensitization.

Background Biodegradable microparticles, in particular poly(lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA), have been shown as potential delivery vehicles for intranasal (i.n.) vaccines in animal models.