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Marker allergens of weed pollen – basic considerations and diagnostic benefits in the clinical routine

Part 16 of the Series Molecular Allergology

Allergo Journal International volume 23, pages 274–280 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

The term weed is referring to plants used as culinary herbs and medicinal plants as well as ecologically adaptive and invasive segetal plants. In Europe, pollen of ragweed, mugwort, English plantain and pellitory are the main elicitors of weed pollen allergies. Presently, 35 weed pollen allergens have been identified. The most relevant belong to the protein families of pectate lyases, defensin-like proteins, non-specific lipid transfer proteins, and Ole e 1-like proteins. The sensitization frequency depends on geographic regions and might affect more than 50 % of pollen allergic patients in distinct regions. Due to overlapping flowering seasons, similar habitats, polysensitizations and cross-reactive (pan)-allergens, it is difficult to diagnose genuine weed pollen sensitization using pollen extracts. Marker allergens for component-resolved diagnostics are available for the important weed pollen. These are Amb a 1 (ragweed), Art v 1 (mugwort), Pla l 1 (English plantain) and Par j 2 (pellitory). Molecule-based approaches can be used to identify the primary sensitizer and thus enable selection of the appropriate weed pollen extracts for allergen immunotherapy.

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Abbreviations

AIT:

Allergen immunotherapy

CCD:

Cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants

IgE:

Immunoglobulin E

nsLTP:

Non-specific lipid transfer proteins

PR:

Pathogenesis-related

SPT:

Skin prick test

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Teresa Stemeseder &  Gabriele Gadermaier

  2. Floridsdorf Allergy Center, Vienna, Austria

    Wolfgang Hemmer

  3. Department of Dermatology, Paracelsus Private Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Österreich

    Thomas Hawranek

  4. Christian Doppler Laboratory for Biosimilar Characterization, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

    Gabriele Gadermaier

  5. Christian Doppler Laboratory for Biosimilar Characterization Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstraße 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Gabriele Gadermaier

Authors
  1. Teresa Stemeseder
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  2. Wolfgang Hemmer
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  3. Thomas Hawranek
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  4. Gabriele Gadermaier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gabriele Gadermaier.

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Conflict of interest

The authors state to have no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgements

The financial support by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy, the National Foundation of Research, Technology and Development and Land Salzburg is acknowledged.

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Stemeseder, T., Hemmer, W., Hawranek, T. et al. Marker allergens of weed pollen – basic considerations and diagnostic benefits in the clinical routine. Allergo J Int 23, 274–280 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40629-014-0033-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40629-014-0033-1

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