Introduction to Molecular Allergology: Protein Families, Databases, and Potential Benefits

Abstract

Recent research into allergens has changed our understanding of allergic reactions, especially with regard to those mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE). The previous (and primarily biological) categorization of allergen sources as pollens, mites, animal epithelial tissue, mold spores, foods, and insect venoms is being augmented by knowledge of molecular structures of the individual allergens and their categorization into protein families. Molecular allergology allows more sensitive and precise diagnosis and detects individual patterns of sensitization. Cross-sensitization, sensitization to marker allergens, and prognostically important sensitization to high-risk allergens can, therefore, be examined in depth.

This chapter begins by presenting the nomenclature of immediate-type allergens and the classification systems used in molecular allergology. The principles of protein relationships and the benefits of available allergen databases are discussed, and the use of these methods in molecular epidemiology and allergy diagnostics is outlined.

This contribution is based on a publication that appeared in the Allergo Journal in 2010 (Kleine-Tebbe J, Ollert M, Jakob T: Molekulare Allergologie: Nomenklatur, Proteinfamilien, Datenbanken und potenzieller Nutzen. Allergo J 2010; 19: 390–394) and which has been updated, expanded, and translated into English as a chapter for this book.

The authors gratefully thank Dr. Steve Love, PhD, Laguna Niguel, CA, USA, for reading the manuscript, helpful suggestions, and editorial assistance with the English translation.