title: Skin test diagnosis of grass pollen allergy with a recombinant hybrid molecule.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A recombinant hybrid molecule (HM) consisting of 4 major allergens from timothy grass (Phl p 1, 2, 5, and 6) was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and characterized regarding its immunologic properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether the recombinant HM can be used for the diagnosis of grass pollen allergy by means of skin testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin prick testing was performed in 32 patients with grass pollen allergy and in 9 control individuals by using increasing concentrations (4, 12, 36, and 108 mug/mL) of the HM and using commercial grass pollen extract. Specific IgE reactivities against the HM, grass pollen extract, and a panel of purified grass pollen allergens (recombinant Phl p 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 13 and natural Phl p 4) were measured by means of ELISA, and timothy grass pollen-specific IgE levels were determined by using ImmunoCAP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Grass pollen allergy was diagnosed in all patients by means of skin testing with the HM. No false-positive skin test responses were obtained in the control individuals. There was an excellent correlation between IgE levels obtained with the HM and natural grass pollen extract measured by means of ELISA (r = 0.98, P < .0001) and by means of ImmunoCAP (r = 0.98, P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recombinant HM permitted accurate and specific in vivo diagnosis of grass pollen allergy in all tested patients. It can be considered a well-defined tool for the diagnosis and perhaps for immunotherapy of grass pollen allergy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A recombinant HM can replace traditional allergen extracts for skin test-based diagnosis of grass pollen allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metz-Favre
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linhart
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Focke-Tejkl
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Purohit
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Blay
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pauli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031784:Phleum / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000939:Epitopes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E