Characterization of the allergenic structures in Oleaceae pollen

Plants belonging to the Oleaceae family, especially olive and ash are potent and important causes of respiratory allergy (i.e., rhinitis, asthma). Pharmacological therapy of allergy can reduce allergic symptoms in sensitized patients but only allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is causal, prevents the progression of disease from mild to severe respiratory manifestations and has long-lasting effects. However, current forms of SIT are based on the administration of natural allergen in cumbersome treatment schedules and may induce severe side effects. Aim of this project is to identify and characterize the clinically important allergens for the engineering of hypoallergenic allergen derivatives to improve the safety and efficacy of SIT for Oleaceae pollen allergy. For this purpose the panel of Oleaceae allergens will be assembled and through collaborations with several allergy-clinics blood samples from allergic patients are available to test the allergens for IgE reactivity and allergenic activity. Based on a detailed immunological characterization of the allergens including the mapping of the IgE-binding sites and T cell epitopes, recombinant hypoallergenic derivatives of the allergens will be constructed by fusing non-allergenic peptides from the IgE binding sites of the allergens to a carrier protein to render them immunogenic. Thus the project may contribute to the improvement of the safety and efficacy of SIT of Oleaceae pollen allergy through the construction of a hypoallergenic derivatives from Oleaceae allergens.