Identification and localization of allergenic determinants on grass group I antigens using monoclonal antibodies.
Epitopes recognized by five mAb which block the binding of human IgE antibodies to grass group I (GpI) Ag were characterized and partially mapped. Site specificity studies defined four apparently non-overlapping blocking antibody binding sites on the meadow fescue GpI molecule, Fes e I. One of these sites (site A) was localized to a 14,000 m.w. fragment designated P3 generated by CNBr cleavage of purified Fes e I. The P3 peptide possessed human IgE binding sites as well as other epitopes (non-site A) defined by 19 other anti-GpI mAb. All of the P3 reactive antibodies recognized cross-reactive determinants found on GpI Ag isolated from five different grasses suggesting that P3 is a conserved portion of grass GpI molecules. The P3 fragment from Fes e I was used to immunize mice and induced antibodies which reacted with intact GpI Ag from all 5 different grasses currently being studied in this laboratory.
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Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill 27599.
Klapper
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D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000502:physiology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D000939:Epitopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D008222:Lymphokines; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; C043076:beta-microseminoprotein; C013059:immunoglobulin-binding factors; D007073:Immunoglobulin E