RESUMO
Pollinosis is sub-diagnosed and rarely studied in tropical countries. Cashew tree pollen has been reported as an allergen source although the knowledge of its immunoglobulin E (IgE)-reactive molecules is lacking. Therefore, this work aimed to identify IgE-reactive molecules and provide a proteomic profile of this pollen. From the 830 proteins identified by shotgun analysis, 163 were annotated to gene ontology, and a list of 39 proteins filtered for high confidence was submitted to the Allfam database where nine were assigned to allergenic families. Thus, 12 patients from the northeast of Brazil with persistent allergic rhinitis and aggravation of symptoms during cashew flowering season were selected. Using a 2D-based approach, we identified 20 IgE-reactive proteins, four already recognized as allergens, including a homolog of the birch isoflavone-reductase (Bet v 6). IgE-reactivity against the extract in native form was confirmed for five patients in ELISA, with three being positive for Bet v 6. Herein, we present a group of patients with rhinitis exposed to cashew tree pollen with the first description of IgE-binding proteins and a proteomic profile of the whole pollen. Cashew tree pollen is considered an important trigger of rhinitis symptoms in clinical practice in the northeast of Brazil, and the elucidation of its allergenic molecules can improve the diagnostics and treatment for allergic patients.
Assuntos
Alérgenos/imunologia , Anacardium/química , Imunoglobulina E/imunologia , Pólen/efeitos adversos , Pólen/química , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/induzido quimicamente , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Alérgenos/química , Animais , Antígenos de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Antígenos de Plantas/química , Antígenos de Plantas/genética , Antígenos de Plantas/imunologia , Betula/metabolismo , Brasil , Proteínas de Transporte/análise , Proteínas de Transporte/imunologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Reações Cruzadas/imunologia , Dermatophagoides farinae , Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Proteínas de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Proteínas de Plantas/química , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/imunologia , Pólen/genética , Proteômica , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/imunologia , Testes CutâneosRESUMO
Mo-CBP3 is an antifungal protein produced by Moringa oleifera which has been investigated as potential candidate for developing transgenic crops. Before the use of novel proteins, food safety tests must be conducted. This work represents an early food safety assessment of Mo-CBP3, using the two-tiered approach proposed by ILSI. The history of safe use, mode of action and results for amino acid sequence homology using the full-length and short contiguous amino acids sequences indicate low risk associated to this protein. Mo-CBP3 isoforms presented a reasonable number of alignments (>35% identity) with allergens in a window of 80 amino acids. This protein was resistant to pepsin degradation up to 2 h, but it was susceptible to digestion using pancreatin. Many positive attributes were presented for Mo-CBP3. However, this protein showed high sequence homology with allergens and resistance to pepsin digestion that indicates that further hypothesis-based testing on its potential allergenicity must be done. Additionally, animal toxicity evaluations (e.g. acute and repeated dose oral exposure assays) must be performed to meet the mandatory requirements of several regulatory agencies. Finally, the approach adopted here exemplified the importance of performing an early risk assessment of candidate proteins for use in plant transformation programs.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Proteínas Alimentares/efeitos adversos , Alimentos Geneticamente Modificados/efeitos adversos , Modelos Moleculares , Moringa oleifera/metabolismo , Proteínas de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Sementes/metabolismo , Alérgenos/efeitos adversos , Alérgenos/química , Alérgenos/genética , Alérgenos/metabolismo , Ração Animal/efeitos adversos , Ração Animal/microbiologia , Animais , Antígenos de Plantas/química , Antígenos de Plantas/genética , Antígenos de Plantas/metabolismo , Brasil , Quitina/metabolismo , Proteínas Alimentares/química , Proteínas Alimentares/metabolismo , Digestão , Hipersensibilidade Alimentar/etiologia , Hipersensibilidade Alimentar/prevenção & controle , Alimentos Geneticamente Modificados/microbiologia , Humanos , Ligantes , Fungos Mitospóricos/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Moringa oleifera/genética , Controle Biológico de Vetores/métodos , Proteínas de Plantas/química , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/efeitos adversos , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/genética , Plantas Geneticamente Modificadas/metabolismo , Isoformas de Proteínas/efeitos adversos , Isoformas de Proteínas/química , Isoformas de Proteínas/genética , Isoformas de Proteínas/metabolismo , Medição de Risco , Sementes/genética , Homologia de Sequência de AminoácidosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A one-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the simultaneous detection of the major allergens of pecan and Brazil nuts was developed. Primer pairs for the amplification of partial sequences of genes encoding the allergens were designed and tested for their specificity on a range of food components. RESULTS: The targeted amplicon size was 173 bp of Ber e 1 gene of Brazil nuts and 72 bp of vicilin-like seed storage protein gene in pecan nuts. The primer pair detecting the noncoding region of the chloroplast DNA was used as the internal control of amplification. The intrinsic detection limit of the PCR method was 100 pg mL(-1) pecan or Brazil nuts DNA. The practical detection limit was 0.1% w/w (1 g kg(-1)). The method was applied for the investigation of 63 samples with the declaration of pecans, Brazil nuts, other different nut species or nuts generally. In 15 food samples pecans and Brazil nuts allergens were identified in the conformity with the food declaration. CONCLUSION: The presented multiplex PCR method is specific enough and can be used as a fast approach for the detection of major allergens of pecan or Brazil nuts in food.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Plantas/análise , Bertholletia/química , Carya/química , Análise de Alimentos/métodos , Nozes/química , Albuminas 2S de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Albuminas 2S de Plantas/análise , Albuminas 2S de Plantas/genética , Alérgenos/análise , Alérgenos/genética , Antígenos de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Antígenos de Plantas/genética , Bertholletia/efeitos adversos , Carya/efeitos adversos , DNA de Plantas/metabolismo , Inspeção de Alimentos/métodos , Limite de Detecção , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Multiplex , Hipersensibilidade a Noz/prevenção & controle , Nozes/efeitos adversos , Hipersensibilidade a Amendoim/prevenção & controle , Proteínas de Armazenamento de Sementes/efeitos adversos , Proteínas de Armazenamento de Sementes/análise , Proteínas de Armazenamento de Sementes/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A previous survey on allergens used by Mexican allergists in their skin prick test (SPT) panel showed wide variation. Humidity varies in different zones of Mexico. This might lead to differences in natural exposure and allergic sensitisation throughout the country. We aim to describe the SPT sensitivity patterns in the different climatic zones in Mexico and to show the usefulness of a structured SPT chart-review including multiple clinics in obtaining these allergen sensitisation patterns. METHODS: A retrospective, structured chart-review of SPT results was undertaken in allergy clinics throughout Mexico. Ratios of SPT positivity were calculated for individual allergens, per climatic zone and nation-wide. Per allergen group the most important allergens were identified. Statistically significant differences between zones and the nation-wide data were tested with Pearson's Chi-squares test. RESULTS: 4169 skin test charts were recollected. The most important allergens causing sensitisation were very similar in different zones, despite climate variation. The allergen with highest ratio of SPT positivity was Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (51%), with trees (Ash-27%, Alder-22%, Oak19%), and Bermuda grass (26%) as second and third. In the hot zones (humid and dry) Aspergillus was statistically significant more frequently than in more temperate zones. Cockroaches thrive in big cities and humid zones and Mesquite and Poplar in dry zones. Weeds are less important. CONCLUSION: Mexico has its own SPT sensitisation pattern, which is different from America and Europe. A structured chart-review of SPT results is able to show this and might be a tool for allergists in other countries.
Assuntos
Clima , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Hipersensibilidade/diagnóstico , Hipersensibilidade/epidemiologia , Testes Cutâneos , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Animais , Antígenos de Dermatophagoides/efeitos adversos , Antígenos de Dermatophagoides/imunologia , Antígenos de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Antígenos de Plantas/imunologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Cynodon , Feminino , Humanos , Hipersensibilidade/imunologia , Masculino , México , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pyroglyphidae , Estudos Retrospectivos , ÁrvoresRESUMO
Intranasal steroids have been shown to affect ocular symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR). The results of the published literature, however, are not uniform across all products. This study was designed to evaluate whether the effects of fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS) are consistent across different allergy seasons and different geographic regions for individual nasal and ocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). An integrated analysis was performed on data from four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter trials, designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FFNS, 110 micrograms, once daily for 14 days in 1141 adult and adolescent SAR patients exposed to mountain cedar, ragweed, or grass pollen allergen. All patients evaluated severity of seven individual nasal and ocular symptoms on a 4-point categorical scale. The main efficacy measures included change from baseline in daily reflective, morning (A.M.) predose instantaneous, and daily A.M. and evening (P.M.) reflective score for each nasal/ocular symptom. FFNS significantly improved daily mean reflective, A.M. predose instantaneous, and daily A.M. and P.M. reflective scores for nasal itching, sneezing, congestion, rhinorrhea, and ocular itching/burning, tearing/watering, and redness, compared with placebo (p < 0.001 for all versus placebo). The least square (LS) mean treatment differences ranged from -0.44 to -0.33 (p < 0.0001) for the individual nasal symptoms and from -0.22 to -0.19 (p < 0.0001) for the individual ocular symptoms. FFNS also significantly improved daily reflective total nasal symptom scores (TNSS)/reflective total ocular symptom scores (TOSS), and A.M. predose instantaneous TNSS and instantaneous TOSS, compared with placebo (LS mean treatment differences = -1.47, -0.65, -1.49, and -0.63, respectively; p < 0.001 for all). FFNS, 110 micrograms, once daily consistently relieved all nasal and ocular symptoms of SAR across different allergy seasons and geographical locations.
Assuntos
Androstadienos/administração & dosagem , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/tratamento farmacológico , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/fisiopatologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Alérgenos/imunologia , Ambrosia , Androstadienos/efeitos adversos , Antígenos de Plantas/efeitos adversos , Antígenos de Plantas/imunologia , Cedrus , Criança , Progressão da Doença , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sprays Nasais , Pólen/efeitos adversos , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Rinite Alérgica Sazonal/diagnósticoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The maize (zea mays) is considered one of the fundamental nutrients in the diet of the Mexican population. It can cause allergic reactions, according to reports from countries other than Mexico. OBJECTIVE: To know the participation of maize in the etiology of allergic disease and the incidence of positivity to its antigens by cutaneous tests, in Mexican patients. METHODS: Six hundred sixty-one patients were studied. There were obtained a complete clinical history and samples for laboratory tests, as well as the results of cutaneous tests. RESULTS: Of 661 patients, 56 (8.5%) manifested allergic symptoms attributable to maize, which correlated (p < 0.0001) with a positive cutaneous response to its antigens. Fifty (88%) of them worked with maize and had a significant relative risk value (RR=102). The remaining six patients did not work with maize, four of them were included in the group who had a positive response for both allergens (n = 25), and two in that one with positive response for only one of these allergens (n = 100). CONCLUSIONS: The low frequency (8.5%) to which the allergic disease was attributed to maize, and the strong association (88%) with workers of maize induce us to consider the influence of some differences concerning to the cereal, such as physical characteristics, years and frequency to contact with, and specially to its entrance route. In fact, it plays an important role in the development of either toleragenic or immunogenic response to an antigen.