Protein allergens of the species Cynodon dactylon

Details Protein allergens of the species Cynodon dactylon Protein allergens of the species Cynodon dactylon

1995-05-15

2001-04-10

Scheiner, Laurie (Department: 1648)

Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions

Antigen, epitope, or other immunospecific immunoeffector

Allergen or component thereof

C424S184100, C424S185100, C424S192100, C435S069700, C435S252300, C530S350000, C530S370000, C536S023600

Reexamination Certificate

active

06214358

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bermuda grass (
Cynodon dactylon
) is an important source of pollen allergens in many areas of the world, especially in tropical and sub-tropical climates. These allergens have been studied by a number of means including IgE immunoblotting (Ford D., and Baldo, B. A.
J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.
79: 711-720 (1987); Shen H. D., et al.,
Clin. Allergy
18: 401-409 (1988), column chromatography (Orren, A., and Dowdle,
S. Afr. Med. J.
51: 586 (1977); Matthiesen et al.,
J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.
81: 266 (Ab) (1988)), and immunoelectrophoresis (Matthiesen et al., supra, 1988).
The major allergen of Bermuda grass pollen allergen has been identified as a protein with a molecular weight (MW) in the range of 30-34 kD, binding IgE from sera of more than 76% of individuals allergic to Bermuda grass (Ford and Baldo, (1987) Supra; Shen et al, (1988) Supra, and has been designated Cyn d I (Kahn and Marsh, (1986)
Mol. Immunol.,
23:1281-1288; Marsh et al., (1988)
Ann. Allergy,
60:499-504, Matthiesen et al, 1988, Supra). Cyn d I is a member of the Group I family of allergens (Kahn and Marsh, (1986) Supra, found in many taxonomically related grasses including ryegrass (Lol p I), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa p I) and Timothy grass (Phl p I) (Standring et al, 1987
Int. Archs Allergy Appl. Immun.,
83, 96-103; Esch and Klapper, (1987)
J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.,
79:489-495; Matthiesen and Lowenstein (1991)
Clin. Exp. Allergy,
21, 309-320. However, the allergens of Bermuda grass show limited antibody cross-reactivity with those of other grasses (March et al., Supra, Berstein et al. (1976)
J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.,
57:141-152. A number of studies have shown that Cyn d I differs from the Group I homologues of closely related grasses (Matthiesen and Lowenstein, (1991) Supra. The sequence of the first 27 amino acids at the N-terminus of Cyn d I has been determined. (Matthiesen et al, 1988, Supra; Matthiesen et al, (1990)
Epitopes of Atopic Allergens,
Brussels, UCB Institute of Allergy, 9-13; Singh et al,
Monographs in Allergy,
(1990), 28:101-120; Matthiesen and Lowenstein, (1991), supra).
The presence of Bermuda grass pollen allergens in the environment causes hayfever and seasonal asthma in many individuals and continues to have significant socioeconomic impact on Western communities. While the available spectrum of drugs, including anti-histamines and steroids, have resulted in improvement in the treatment of allergic disease, they do have unfortunate side-effects associated with long term usage. Because of these problems, renewed interest has been shown in the immunotherapy of allergic disease. Immunotherapy involves the injection of potent allergen extracts to desensitize patients against allergic reactions (Bousquet, J. and Michel, F. B., (1989)
Allergy and Clin Immol. News
1: 7-10. Unfortunately, the pollen preparations used as allergens are polyvalent and of poor quality. Consequently, crude extracts are frequently used at high concentrations and may trigger potentially lethal systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis. The product expressed from the cloned gene, fragments thereof, or synthetic peptides based on the sequence of the allergens provide a safer medium for therapy since they can be quality controlled, characterized and standardized, and they optimally do not bind IgE.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides nucleic acid sequences coding for the major protein allergen of the species
Cynodon dactylon
(Cyn d I), or at least one fragment thereof or the functional equivalent of such nucleic acid sequences. The present invention also provides expression vectors comprising such nucleic acid sequences and host cells transformed therewith. The present invention further provides isolated recombinantly, chemically or synthetically produced Cyn d I or fragments thereof. Isolated Cyn d I or antigenic fragments thereof are useful for diagnosing and treating sensitivity in an individual to Bermuda grass pollen allergens.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5480972 (1996-01-01), Avjioglu et al.
patent: WO 8909260 (1989-10-01), None
Perez et al., The Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 265, No. 27, pp. 16210-16215, 1990.*
Ford et al., J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., vol. 79, No. 5, pp. 711-720, May 1987.*
Matthiesen, et al., “Characterization of the major allergen ofCynodon dactylon . . . ”, J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.,Nov. 1991, vol. 88, No. 5, pp. 765-774.
Matthiesen, et al., “Monoclonal Antibodies against group I and group V Allergens of Grass Pollens”, Abstracts of EAACI 1990 meeting, OP48, p. 47.
Singh, et al., “Molecular Biology of Rye-Grass Pollen Allergens,” Baldo BA (ed): Molecular Approaches to the Study of Allergens, Monogr. Allergy, Basel, Karger, 1990, vol. 28:101-120.
Matthiesen, et al., “Characteristics of grass pollen allergens,” from Workshop held under Aegis of XIV Congress of European Academy of Allergy & Clin. Immunol., Berlin, Sep. 1989.
Chang, et al., “Analysis of allergenic components of Bermuda grass pollen by monoclonal antibodies”,Allergy,1991, vol. 46:520-528.
Matthiesen, et al., “Characterization of the major allergen of Cynodon Dectylon (Bermuda Grass) pollen”,J. Allergy Clin. Immun.,1988, vol. 81:266 (Abstract).
Tovey, et al., “Characterisation of allergens by protein blotting”,Electrophoresis,1987, vol. 8, pp 452-463.

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