Molecular approaches to peach and Artemisia pollen allergies in China

In Northern China, peach is the main cause of fruit allergy, and Artemisia pollen play a dominant role in environmental respiratory allergies. This thesis addresses broad molecular aspects of peach and Artemisia pollen allergies, related to their prevalence, the allergenic sources and their allergens, the tissue location and quantification of the major allergens in fruits of different peach cultivars and in pollen of seven different Artemisia species, and their application in molecular allergen diagnostics. For peach allergy, the lipid transfer protein (Pru p 3) is the major allergen inducing OAS and systemic symptoms. For LTP-associated peach allergy in China, primary sensitization to Artemisia pollen LTPs is at least as important as that to peach Pru p 3. Due to the low prevalence of birch pollen sensitization, the Bet v 1 homologue Pru p 1 is of limited importance. ELISA methods to quantify Pru p 3 and Pru p 1 content were established and used to select hypoallergenic peach and nectarine varieties. For Artemisia pollen allergy, galactose oxidase was identified as a new allergen group 7 designation by the IUIS/WHO allergen nomenclature subcommittee. Component-resolved diagnosis revealed that the most frequently recognized allergens were those from group 1, 3 and 7. Sensitization to multiple allergens was shown to be associated with an increased risk of allergic asthma. The limited degree of sequence polymorphisms of iso-allergens and variants from different Artemisia pollens explained the high level of cross-reactivity between species. The highest IgE binding potency of pollen extract for most Chinese Artemisia allergic patients was A. annua. The research in this thesis may contribute to improve diagnosis, management and treatment of peach and Artemisia pollen allergies in China, by identification of relevant routes and sources of sensitization, and of important major allergen isoforms.