title: Allergens of Bipolaris species.
abstract: Skin prick tests done previously revealed a significantly higher percentage of sensitization to an extract of Bipolaris sp. among atopic individuals (34/147, 23.1%) compared to non-atopic individuals. Bipolaris-specific IgE levels were quantified in sera from a representative group of 38 individuals using the Fluorescence Allergosorbent Test (FAST). Result obtained by FAST were found to be comparable to the skin prick test results (r2 = 0.60, p < 0.001 for IgE levels vs wheal sizes; r2 = 0.44, p < 0.001 for IgE levels vs erythema sizes). Characterisation of the extract's allergenic component by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed 28 protein bands with molecular weights (MW) ranging from 11 kDa to above 100 kDa. Immunoblotting with sera of 10 Bipolaris-sensitive (skin prick test, 3 +) individuals showed that Bipolaris spore extract contained at least 4 IgE binding proteins (MW 11-13 kDa, 16-17 kDa, 20-22 kDa and 36 kDa). All 10 sera reacted to the protein at MW 20-22 kDa, 2 sera with MW 11-13 kDa, 3 sera with 16-17 kDa and 6 sera with 36 kDa. This study has thus demonstrated that spores of Bipolaris sp. contain allergenic components which may elicit IgE-mediated reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012846:Singapore; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E