WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature: Providing a common language

Abstract

A systematic nomenclature for allergens originated in the early 1980s, when few protein allergens had been described. A group of scientists led by Dr. David G. Marsh developed a nomenclature based on the Linnaean taxonomy, and further established the World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies (WHO/IUIS) Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee in 1986. Its stated aim was to standardize the names given to the antigens (allergens) that caused IgE-mediated allergies in humans. The Sub-Committee first published a revised list of allergen names in 1986, which continued to grow with rare publications until 1994. Between 1994 and 2007 the database was a text table online, then converted to a more readily updated website. The allergen list became the Allergen Nomenclature database (www.allergen.org), which currently includes approximately 880 proteins from a wide variety of sources. The Sub-Committee includes experts on clinical and molecular allergology. They review submissions of allergen candidates, using evidence-based criteria developed by the Sub-Committee. The review process assesses the biochemical analysis and the proof of allergenicity submitted, and aims to assign allergen names prior to publication. The Sub-Committee maintains and revises the database, and addresses continuous challenges as new "omics" technologies provide increasing data about potential new allergens. Most journals publishing information on new allergens require an official allergen name, which involves submission of confidential data to the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee, sufficient to demonstrate binding of IgE from allergic subjects to the purified protein.

Effect of structural stability on endolysosomal degradation and T-cell reactivity of major shrimp allergen tropomyosin

“…Four tropomyosins were investigated in this study: Pen m 1 (shrimp), Der p 10 (house dust mite), Bla g 7 (cockroach) and Ani s 3 (Anisakis), all of which have been meticulously investigated for their allergenicity and registered on the IUIS allergen database. 28 Through our detailed structural analysis, we demonstrate here that these tropomyosins, despite their conserved primary structure, exhibit different stabilities as reflected in their melting temperatures, while all are known to withstand heat-processing and retain IgE binding capacity. Ani s 3 showed a remarkably low melting temperature, which may be a physiological property of a fish parasite protein that is adapted to a cooler environment.…”

Purification and molecular characterization of phospholipase, antigen 5 and hyaluronidases from the venom of the Asian hornet (Vespa velutina)

“…Nomenclature used for the potential allergenic molecules of Vespa velutina venom, follow the rules recommended by the WHO/IUIS Committee ([11;12]). Protein parameters from the protein sequences (e.g.…”

“…The nomenclature used for naming the purified components, will consider what is suggested for allergenic proteins by the WHO/IUIS (World Health Organization / International Union of Immunological Societies) Committee ([11;12]), considering that only the antigen 5 (named Vesp v 5) has been described as such so far; the phospholipase (Vesp v 1) and hyaluronidases (Vesp v 2) must still be considered as potential allergenic components.…”

The WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature

“…Official allergen names are assigned by the WHO/IUIS Nomenclature Sub‐Committee (http://www.allergen.org/). In order to obtain the official designation of a new allergen, specific information (Table ) needs to be provided by submitting a completed application form (http://www.allergen.org/submission.php) describing the source, the protein, the type of exposure (airway, ingestion, contact, or injection), the characteristics of the protein and its amino acid sequence, and the IgE‐binding results using sera from relevant subjects . The complete submission, evaluation, and publication process is summarized in Table .…”