Keeping allergen names clear and defined

Chan, Sanny, Pomes, Anna, Hilger, Christiane, Davies, Janet M., Mueller, Geoffrey, Kuehn, Annette, Lopata, Andreas L., Gadermaier, Gabriele, Van Hage, Marianne, Raulf, Monika, and Goodman, Richard E. (2019) Keeping allergen names clear and defined. Frontiers in Immunology, 10. 2600.

[img]
Preview
PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (540kB) | Preview
View at Publisher Website: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.02600
 
10
863


Abstract

The World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies (WHO/IUIS) Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee was established in 1986 by leading allergists to standardize names given to proteins that cause IgE-mediated reactions in humans. The Sub-Committee's objective is to assign unique names to allergens based on a critical analysis of confidentially submitted biochemical and clinical data from researchers, often prior to publication to preserve consistency. The Sub-Committee maintains and revises the database as the understanding of allergens evolves. This report summarizes recent developments that led to updates in classification of cockroach group 1 and 5 allergens to animal as well as environmental and occupational allergens. Interestingly, routes, doses, and frequency of exposure often affects allergenicity as does the biochemical properties of the proteins and similarity to self and other proteins. Information required by the Sub-Committee now is more extensive than previously as technology has improved. Identification of new allergens requires identification of the amino acid sequence and physical characteristics of the protein as well as demonstration of IgE binding from subjects verified by described clinical histories, proof of the presence of the protein in relevant exposure substances, and demonstration of biological activity (skin prick tests, activation of basophils, or mast cells). Names are assigned based on taxonomy with the abbreviation of genus and species and assignment of a number, which reflects the priority of discovery, but more often now, the relationships with homologous proteins in related species.

Item ID: 61277
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1664-3224
Keywords: allergen nomenclature, WHO, IUIS, taxonomy, diagnostic, airway, food, dermal
Copyright Information: © 2019 Chan, Pomés, Hilger, Davies, Mueller, Kuehn, Lopata, Gadermaier, van Hage, Raulf and Goodman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided theoriginal author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Additional Information:

Published on behalf of the WHO/IUIS AllergenNomenclature Sub-Committee

Funders: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Date Deposited: 25 Dec 2019 07:35
FoR Codes: 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3205 Medical biochemistry and metabolomics > 320506 Medical biochemistry - proteins and peptides (incl. medical proteomics) @ 50%
32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3204 Immunology > 320401 Allergy @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920108 Immune System and Allergy @ 80%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920406 Food Safety @ 20%
Downloads: Total: 863
Last 12 Months: 93
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page