Recombinant allergens/ allergen standardization

Abstract

Recombinant allergens are genetically engineered isoforms representing allergen molecules from allergen extracts. Immunologic responses of allergic patients toward allergen extracts define the major allergens. For the average allergic patient, the diagnostic sensitivity and treatment efficacy correlate with the concentration of major allergen. Standardization of allergen products (extracts or genetically engineered allergens) can therefore advantageously be performed using a selected recombinant major allergen as a standard. The standardization will furthermore require reagents for which both monospecific, monoclonal, or preferably, recombinant antibodies can be used. Due to differences in the allergenic activity of individual isoallergens and the naturally occurring mixture of isoallergens found in an allergen extract, and due to additional contribution to the allergenic activity from other molecules in the extract, a biologic potency assessment must always be performed as a supplement. This is also the case for a genetically engineered allergen product.

Constructing a hybrid molecule with low capacity of IgE binding from Chenopodium album pollen allergens

“…Although it is possible to determine the quantity of certain allergens in therapeutic allergen extract, but it is not achievable to eliminate non-allergenic components [26]. It has been reported that extractbased immunotherapy may induce IgE antibodies toward the new allergens and lead to clinically relevant new sensitizations [6].…”

Sublingual immunotherapy: The optimism and the issues

“…Sublingual vaccines prepared from raw allergic materials, such as grass or tree pollens, 16,17 are previously exposed to both macroscopic and microscopic examination in order to determine electrophoretic profiling and evaluate of bacteriological load and biological activity.…”

Sublingual immunotherapy: from biological extracts to recombinant allergens

“…Sublingual vaccines based on aqueous allergen extracts are currently prepared from raw allergenic materials, such as grass or tree pollens, cat or dog epithelia, or cultures of common house dust mites (1–6). Quality control of raw materials includes both macroscopic and microscopic examination to determine protein content, electrophoretic (isoelectrofocusing) profiling, and evaluations of bacteriological load and biological activity.…”