Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Development of electron spin resonance radical immunoassay for measurement of airborne orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) pollen antigens

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Aerobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have developed a highly sensitive method for the measurement of airborne orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata: Dac g) pollen antigens using an electron spin resonance (ESR) radical immunoassay. In this immunoassay, the lowest detectable level of Dac g antigen in a sample is 0.1 arbitrary unit; the amount of Dac g antigen in single pollen grains was found to be as 1.84 units. Thus, Dac g antigens can be detected in amounts of 1/20th of that contained in the grain. This immunoassay enables early detection of grass pollen antigens. Such information may be useful for patients with grass pollinosis, especially for those who show symptoms when only low levels of the pollen antigens are present in air. In this study, minor amounts of Dac g antigen (cross-reactive antigens) were detected in late March, after which the levels gradually increased. The levels were detected to be 10 units/m3 until the middle of May and then increased after blooming of orchard grass. High levels were maintained until the middle of June. Some patients who suffer from grass pollinosis show symptoms in late April and early May, when the airborne Dac g antigen levels were found to be 5–10 units/m3.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+
from $39.99 /Month
  • Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
  • Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
  • Cancel anytime
View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

Abbreviations

BCA:

Bicinchoninic acid

BCIP/NBT:

5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate/nitroblue tetrazolium

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

CNBr:

Cyanogen bromide

Dac g:

Dactylis glomerata

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

FCS:

Fetal bovine serum

ESR:

Electron spin resonance

HRP:

Horseradish peroxidase

MONALISA:

Monitoring Network of Allergen by Immuno-Sampling

NHS:

N-hydroxysuccinimide

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

RSI:

Relative signal intensity

SDS-PAGE:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

SPT:

Skin prick test

References

  • Abdul-Ahad, W., & Brett, M. (2000). Biotin coupling. In J. P. Gosling (Ed.), Immunoassays (pp. 122–123). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aoki, M., Saito, T., Watanabe, H., Matsuo, T., Saito, K., Togashi, H., Kawata, S., Ishikawa, K., Aoyama, M., Kamada, H., & Shinzawa, H. (2002). Clinical significance of a highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay of hepatitis B surface antigen using a novel electron spin resonance technique. Journal of Medical Virology, 66, 116–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aoyama, M., & Takahashi, Y. (2004). Development of super-sensitive radical immunoassay for Cry j 1. Japanese Journal of Allergology, 53, 1088–1090 (in Japanese with English abstract and legends).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cuerin-Marchand, C., Senechal, H., Bouin, A.-P., Leduc-Brodard, V., Taudou, G., Weyer, A., Peltre, G., & David, B. (1996). Cloning, sequencing and immunological characterization of Dac g 3, a major allergen from Dactylis glomerata pollen. Molecular Immunology, 33, 797–806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esch, R. E. (1999). Grass pollen allergens. In R. F. Lockey & S. C. Bukantz (Eds.), Allergens and allergen immunotherapy (pp. 103–120). New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esch, R. E., & Klapper, D. E. (1989). Isolation and characterization of a major cross reactive grass group I allergenic determinant. Molecular Immunology, 26, 557–561.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kane, M. M., & Banks, J. N. (2000). Raising antibodies. In J. P. Gosling (Ed.), Immunoassays (pp. 19–58). New York: Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leduc-Brodard, V., Inacio, F., Jaquinod, F., Forest, E., David, B., & Peltre, G. (1996). Characterization of Dac g 4, a major basic allergen from Dactylis glomerata pollen. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 98, 1065–1072.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, B. G., Mansfield, L. E., & Nelson, H. S. (1985). Cross-allergenicity among the grasses. Annals of Allergy, 54, 99–104.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuo, T., Shinzawa, H., Togashi, H., Aoki, M., Sugahara, K., Saito, K., Saito, T., Takahashi, T., Yamaguchi, I., Aoyama, M., & Kamada, H. (1998). Highly sensitive hepatitis B surface antigen detection by measuring stable nitroxide radical formation with ESR spectroscopy. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 25, 929–935.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, A. M., Bevan, L. J., Flora, P. S., Jepson, I., & Walker, M. R. (1993) Nucleotide sequence of c-DNA encoding the group α allergen cocksfoot/orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata), Dac g α. Allergy, 48, 615–623.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spieksma, F. Th. M., Kramps, J. A., Plomp, A., & Koerten, H. K. (1991). Grass-pollen allergen carried by the smaller micronic aerosol fraction Grana, 30, 90–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sudo, R., Sudo, M., Saiga, S., & Utumi, S. (2005). Relationship between pollen dispersal of grasses and early spring meteorological conditions in Morioka City, Japan. Japanese Journal of Palynology, 51, 69–74 (in Japanese with English abstract and legends).

    Google Scholar 

  • Suphioglu, C., Singh, M. B., Taylor, P. B., Sellomo, R., Holmes, P., Puy, R., & Knox, R. B. (1992). Mechanism of grass-pollen induced asthma. Lancet, 339, 569–572.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, Y., Matsuura, K., & Katagiri, S. (1987). Annual meadow grass (Poa annua L.) pollinosis. Early spring pollinosis caused by grass pollen. Japanese Journal of Allergology, 37, 7–15 (in Japanese with English abstract and legends).

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, Y., Sakaguchi, M., Inouye, S., Yasueda, H., Shida, T., & Katagiri, S. (1993). Airborne grass pollen antigens in a grassland as studied by immunoblotting with anti-Lol p 1 antibody. Grana, 32, 302–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, Y., Ohashi, T., Nagoya, T., Sakaguchi, M., Yasueda, H., Nitta, H. (2001). Possibility of real-time measurement of an airborne Cryptomeria japonica pollen allergen based on the principle of the surface plasmon resonance. Aerobiologia, 17, 313–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, Y., Aoyama, M., Yoshitake, M., Abe, E., Ohta, N., & Sakaguchi, M. (2007). Relationship between airborne Cry j 1 and the onset time of the symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis patients. Allergology International, 56, 277–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Oort, E., de Heer, P. G., Lerouge, P., Faye, L., Aalberse, R. C., & van-Ree, R. (2001). Immunochemical characterization of two Picia pastries-derived recombinant group 5 Dactylis glomerata isoallergens. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, 126, 196–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, R. W., & Nelson, H. S. (1985). Pollen allergens and their interrelationships. Clinical Reviews in Allergy, 3, 291–318.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank to Dr. Takao Akatsuka, Professor of Emeritus of Yamagata University and President of Yamagata College of Industry and Technology for his helpful comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Yamagata Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Yamagata, 990-0031, Japan

    Yuichi Takahashi, Etsuko Abe & Takeshi Aita

  2. RADIA Project, Yamagata Promotional Organization for Industrial Technology Institute for Life Support Technology, Yamagata, 990-2473, Japan

    Masaaki Aoyama

  3. Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Shigeto Kawashima

  4. Department of ENT, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan

    Nobuo Ohta

  5. Department of Veterinary Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 229-8501, Japan

    Masahiro Sakaguchi

Authors
  1. Yuichi Takahashi
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masaaki Aoyama
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Etsuko Abe
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Takeshi Aita
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Shigeto Kawashima
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Nobuo Ohta
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Masahiro Sakaguchi
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masahiro Sakaguchi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Takahashi, Y., Aoyama, M., Abe, E. et al. Development of electron spin resonance radical immunoassay for measurement of airborne orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) pollen antigens. Aerobiologia 24, 53–59 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-007-9082-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10453-007-9082-y

Keywords