Molecular design of allergy vaccines.
Recombinant-allergen-based diagnostic tests enable the dissection and monitoring of the molecular reactivity profiles of allergic patients, resulting in more specific diagnosis, disease monitoring, prevention and therapy. In vitro experiments, animal studies and clinical trials in patients demonstrate that allergenic molecules can be engineered to induce different immune responses ranging from tolerance to vigorous immunity. The available data thus suggest that molecular engineering of the disease-related antigens is a technology that may be applicable not only for the design of allergy vaccines but also for the design of vaccines against infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancer.
Linhart
Birgit
B
Division of Immunopathology, Department of Pathophysiology, Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Valenta
Rudolf
R
D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015202:Protein Engineering; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014612:Vaccines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000485:Allergens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014612:Vaccines