[Cross-reacting allergens--panallergens]

Abstract

In the last few years a dramatic increase of the prevalence of immediate type allergies (Type I hypersensitivity according to Coombs and Gell) could be observed. In order to study pathomechanisms which are operative in allergic disease it is highly important to identify and to characterize substances which actually elicit sensitization-the allergens. Allergens are characteristically proteins derived from and/or present in plants or animals. Analysis of allergens using molecular biology revealed that particular allergens transgress species borders and can be found in many plants or animals, some of them can even be detected in plants and animal tissues. Such proteins reveal a high grade of similarity in sequence and structure, which subsequently leads to immunological crossreactivity and according clinical syndromes.