title: The transaldolase, a novel allergen of Fusarium proliferatum, demonstrates IgE cross-reactivity with its human analogue.
abstract: Fusarium species are among airborne fungi and recognized as causative agents of human atopic disorders. However, Fusarium allergens have not been well characterized and the lack of information limits clinical diagnosis and treatment of fungal allergy. The purpose of this study is to identify and characterize important allergens of F. proliferatum. IgE-reacting F. proliferatum components were identified by immunoblot using serum samples from patients of respiratory atopic diseases. Characterization of allergens and determination of IgE cross-reactivity were performed by cDNA cloning, then homologous expression and immunoblot inhibition studies. We identified nine different F. proliferatum components that can be recognized by IgE antibodies in 17 (28%) of the 60 atopic sera tested. Components with molecular masses of about 43, 37.5 and 36.5 kDa with IgE-binding frequencies of about 88, 47 and 53%, respectively, were considered as important allergens of F. proliferatum. The 37.5 kDa IgE-binding component was putatively considered as a transaldolase protein of F. proliferatum. The full-length cDNA of F. proliferatum transaldolase was subsequently cloned. It encodes an open reading frame of 312 amino acids and has sequence identifies of 73 and 61%, respectively, with Cladosporium and human transaldolases. The purified recombinant F. proliferatum transaldolase can inhibit the IgE-binding against the 37.5 kDa component of F. proliferatum and the transaldolase allergen from Cladosporium cladosporioides. More importantly, the recombinant F. proliferatum transaldolase can inhibit IgE-binding against human transaldolase in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, a novel and important F. proliferatum transaldolase allergen was identified. In addition to IgE cross-reactivity between the Fusarium and the Cladosporium transaldolase allergens, IgE cross-reactivity between the Fusarium and the human transaldolases also exists and might contribute to atopic manifestations in the absence of exogenous allergen exposure.
authors: Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Chou
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Keh-Gong
authors: KG
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Chang-Ching
authors: CC
authors: Yeh
authors: Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Hsiao-Yun
authors: HY
authors: Tai
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors: Ming F
authors: MF
authors: Tam
authors: Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Yu-Sen
authors: YS
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: Horng-Der
authors: HD
authors: Shen
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014153:Transaldolase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D014153:Transaldolase