Bird-Egg Syndrome
		100%	Bird-egg syndrome is one example of the close connection of type I allergies involving inhalant and food allergens. The sensitization to airborn allergens was proved to preceed the allergy to ingestive allergens in several studies. Hypersensitivity reactions to bird (feathers, serum, droppings and meat) and egg yolk allergens are more frequently observed in bird fanciers (budgerigar, canary, parrot etc.). The pathomechanism of IgE-mediated bird-egg syndrome is different from pigeon fancier's lung (a form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis), which is not a subject of the present data collection. There are some differences in prevalences and symptoms between bird-egg syndrome and food allergy to egg without sensitization to bird allergens. For example respiratory reactions are frequent in bird-egg syndrome, while they are rarely seen in patients with egg allergy only. The present data collection summarizes information about prevalence, symptoms, and allergen sources in tabular form. Molecular biological and allergenic properties of the major egg yolk allergens alpha-livetin (chicken serum albumin), apovitellenin I and VI are presented. Up to now only little is known about the identity of feather allergens. Apart from bird allergens feather mites participate in the cross-sensitization to house dust mite. Añibarro Bausela B, Besler M, Rancé F, Szépfalusi Z Internet Symposium on Food Allergens   Germany
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			Childhood Asthma In Peru Not Induced By Allergens
		0%	Asthma and asthma symptoms among children living in Lima, Peru, do not appear to be related to atopy, according to researchers. LinkMedica   United Kingdom
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			Class I Chitinases and the Latex-Fruit Syndrome
		0%	The prevalence of sensitization to natural rubber latex in the general population is around 1%. However, occupational latex allergy is considerably higher in people who work wearing latex gloves. Furthermore, almost 50% of these allergic patients also show hypersensitivity to some plant foods, especially chestnut, banana, and avocado, but also to kiwi, papaya, tomato and others. The name "latex-fruit syndrome" has been proposed to describe this type of cross-reactivity. We review here the role of class I chitinases of chestnut, avocado and banana, as major allergens implicated in the latex-fruit syndrome. These enzymes have an N-terminal domain homologous to hevein, one of the major allergens of latex. Thus, there should be common IgE-binding epitopes in latex hevein and the hevein-like domain of class I chitinases. Homologous class II enzymes lacking the hevein domain are not reactive either in vitro or in vivo. This type of protein is widely distributed in plants and it has been demonstrated that in many other foods, like fruits and legumes, there are also IgE-binding class I chitinases. We propose them as panallergens responsible for the latex-fruit syndrome. They are inactivated by heat treatment, which probably explains why only fresh consumed foods are associated with the syndrome. The amount of these allergens may vary dramatically because class I chitinases are induced by ethylene. This plant hormone acts during the ripening of climacteric fruits and is commercially used to hasten ripening of fruits and vegetables. The increase in the allergenicity of these fruits due to ethylene treatment could explain in part the rise in the prevalence of latex-fruit allergy. R. SÁNCHEZ-MONGE, A. DIAZ-PERALES, C. BLANCO, G. SALCEDO Internet Symposium on Food Allergens   Germany
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			Cow's Milk
		90%	Cow's milk allergy (CMA) can be defined as any adverse reaction mediated by immunological mechanisms to cow's milk proteins. CMA can be divided in IgE-mediated reactions (IgE-CMA) and non-IgE-mediated reactions (non-IgE-CMA) which may involve other immunoglobulins, immune complexes and cell-mediated reactions. Patients with non-IgE-CMA and digestive symptoms can present with the following well defined clinical pictures: milk- induced enterocolitis, milk- induced proctitis, milk- induced enteropathy, or eosinophilic allergic gastro- enteritis. CMA should be differentiated from cow's milk intolerance (CMI) reactions due to lactase deficiency or other non immune mediated causes which are not subject of the present review. Most CMA has its onset in the first year of life, and becomes apparent at the time of weaning from breastfeeding. Prevalences of CMA range from 1.6% to 2.8% in randomly selected children younger than 2 years of age (elimination / challenge proven). Oral tolerance is frequently acquired in about 50 to 90% of children with CMA within the first 6 years of life. However, severe CMA may persist into adulthood. The frequency of sensitization to cow's milk in adults has recently been estimated by RAST to be 0.7% and 1.2% in Scandinavian countries. According to the onset of symptoms after milk ingestion CMA can be classified as immediate or delayed- type. The clinical picture can vary from mild to severe, involving the skin (eczema, hives, angioedema), gastrointestinal tract (oral pruritis, colic, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation), respiratory tract (cough, stridor, wheezing), and cardiovascular system (anaphylactic shock). No single laboratory test is diagnostic of CMA. Clinical manifestations supported by skin tests and in vitro parameters are valuable. The diagnosis is confirmed by well-defined elimination and subsequent challenge procedures. If there is evidence of anaphylaxis, challenge should be avoided. The inadvertent ingestion of small amounts of cow's milk allergens hidden in foods can result in severe life- threatening clinical reactions. Cow's milk allergens could be present in breast milk, infant formulas, milk and milk products like cheese and yogurt, as well as in "non- dairy" foods occurring as contaminants or unlabeled additives. The most effective treatment of CMA is allergen avoidance. Besides the optimal choice of breast milk, suitable milk substitutes in the nutrition of infants with CMA are soy hydrolyzed formulas, extensively casein and whey hydrolyzed formulas, and amino acid formulas. The exact frequency of sensitization to soy protein in children with CMA is still controversial. Soy allergy seems to be rare in IgE-CMA, while approximately 60% of children with milk- induced enterocolitis are sensitive to soybean. However, severe anaphylactic reactions to extensively hydrolyzed casein and partially hydrolyzed whey formulas can occur in highly sensitized infants with IgE-mediated cow’s milk allergy. Due to the high homology of protein composition sheep's and goat's milk are cross- reactive in approximately 80% of subjects with CMA while mare's milk is only rarely cross- reactive with cow's milk (4% in subjects with CMA). In addition, sheep’s milk may cause severe IgE-mediated allergic reactions in children not affected by CMA. IgE antibodies from children allergic to cow’s milk are capable of recognizing milk proteins from mammals bred in European countries (ewe, goat, buffalo). Cross-reactivity of camel’s milk proteins has not been recognized. Therefore, due to clinically important residual allergenicity in some hypoallergenic formulas and milk allergen cross-reactivity between species, clinical testing in a safe medically- supervised environment is necessary in each cow’s milk sensitive infant before use. In infants and children the major cow's milk allergens are casein (CAS), beta- lactoglobulin (beta-LG), and alpha- lactalbumin (alpha-LA). Caseins (alpha-, beta-, kappa-CAS) are the most important in children and adults. Other allergens involved in CMA are bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine immunoglobulins. Several IgE- binding epitopes of alpha-LA, beta-LG, alpha- and beta-CAS have been described. Knowledge of the immunodominant epitopes of the major allergens may be useful in identifying children who will have persistent CMA and children who are likely to outgrow CMA. The present data collection summarizes the following topics in tabular form: prevalences of CMA, diagnostic and therapeutic features, molecular biological and allergenic properties of cow's milk allergens, stability and hidden presence of allergens, the use of infant formulas in therapy and prevention of CMA and other atopic diseases. Internet Symposium on Food Allergens   Germany
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			Determination of Hidden Allergens in Foods by Immunoassays
		95%	Hidden food allergens present a potential threat to allergic individuals. In Europe mandatory labelling of the most important food allergens is in preparation (Amendment of EU Food Labeling Directive). On the other hand there are only a few validated methods for the detection and quantitation of minute amounts of allergens in foods. Immunological methods can involve either human IgE or animal antisera. Dot- immunblotting and SDS-PAGE / immunoblotting are sufficient for qualitative detection of food allergens, while Rocket- immunoelectrophoresis and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are applications to quantitate hidden food allergens. The performance of the methods such as their sensitivity, specificity, limit of detection, recovery and reproducability are reviewed in detail. Internet Symposium on Food Allergens   Germany
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			Effects of in vitro Digestion on the IgE-binding Activity of Proteins from Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana)
		0%	The allergenicity of hazelnuts treated with different proteolytic enzymes was examined and compared by SDS-PAGE / immunoblotting and EAST- inhibition experiments using sera of 16 hazelnut allergic individuals. 30 min treatment with the enzymes protease, elastase and trypsin eliminated the allergenicity of the hazelnut proteins, which can be shown by means of immunoblotting experiments. EAST- inhibition experiments reveal only a reduction of allergenicity. Treatment with pancreatin led to a slight decrease in the IgE binding activity of the main hazelnut allergens after 30 min and to an elimination after 60 min. Hydrolysis with pepsin at pH 1.2 resulted in a slight decrease of allergenic activity after 60 min. A complete elimination did not even appear in two of seven patients' sera after 240 min of hydrolysis with pepsin. The results reveal that the IgE-binding proteins in hazelnuts are not very stable to in vitro digestion with proteolytic enzymes. M. WIGOTZKI, S. SCHUBERT, H. STEINHART, A. PASCHKE Internet Symposium on Food Allergens   Germany
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			Hazelnut (Corylus avellana)
		100%	Type 1 allergy to hazelnut is highly associated to pollen allergens from trees of the order Fagales (birch, alder, hazel, hornbeam, and oak). Prevalence of hazelnut hypersensitivity in tree pollen allergic patients ranges from about 70 to 90%. Allergic reactions to tree nuts are often severe, including anaphylactic reactions occurring after accidental ingestion. Hazelnut is responsible for about 13% of acute allergic reactions in tree nut sensitive patients. Frequency of hazelnut allergy is higher in adults than in children. Predictive values of skin tests and specific IgE are relatively low. Detailed information on prevalence, symptoms, and diagnostic features of hazelnut allergy as well as cross-reactivities, molecular biological and allergenic properties of the major hazelnut and hazel pollen allergens are reviewed in tabular form. The major hazel pollen allergen (Cor a 1) as well as the major hazelnut 18-kDa allergen are cross- reactive to Bet v 1 from birch pollen. A 14-kDa hazelnut allergen cross- reacts with birch profilin (Bet v 2). Moreover, several heat stable hazelnut allergens have been identified which are independent of birch pollen. Hazelnut is a common ingredient in processed foods, mainly in confectionery products. Hazelnut oils which are not fully refined may potentially be a threat for nut allergic individuals. Internet Symposium on Food Allergens   Germany
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			IgE-Binding Patterns and Allergenicity of Mango Fruit Varieties
		0%	Mango has become one of the most popular tropical fruits. It is cultivated in more than 1000 strains. In the present study the four most frequently consumed varieties (Eden, Ngowe, Osteen and Tommy Atkins) cultivated in different continents were examined. In order to identify IgE binding allergens and determine mutual cross-reactivities of the varieties immunoblot and enzymeallergosorbent test (EAST) inhibition were performed. Seven sera from patients with sensitization to mango fruit were used. All four varieties shared at least five allergens with Mr of approximately 14, 30, 40, 43 and 67 kDa. Results of EAST inhibition elucidated almost the same inhibition curves and 50%-inhibition values for each variety. In conclusion it could be shown that there were no significant differences in allergenic potency among the four mango strains. Internet Symposium on Food Allergens   Germany
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			IgE-Binding Properties of Recombinant Food Allergens
		0%	Recombinant DNA technology is a common procedure to produce allergenic proteins in vitro. To date, more than 40 food allergens from fruits, vegetables, nuts, milk and seafood have been expressed as recombinant proteins. Since recombinant proteins can be produced in large quantities and in controlled quality, they promise to be suitable tools for precise diagnostics and research applications. "Hypoallergenic" variants of these molecules with reduced or abolished IgE-binding activity may be candidates for immunotherapy of food allergies. Comparative investigations of recombinant food allergens and their natural counterparts may offer new insights into the structural basis of allergenicity. This review provides a collection of data on recombinant food allergens and the spectrum of IgE-binding assays with which they have been tested. In addition, possible structural differences between natural and recombinant food allergens are considered and future diagnostic and therapeutic applications of recombinant food allergens are discussed. Anne-Regine LORENZ, Dieter HAUSTEIN, Stefan VIETHS Internet Symposium on Food Allergens   Germany
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			Investigating the Home Environment
		0%	Home allergens - Use of peak flow meter - Investigation of personal dust - Speed of release of mite allergen - Microscopical studies of house dust. Dr. Harry Morrow-Brown Allergies Explained   UK
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