title: Basophil activation test using recombinant allergens: highly specific diagnostic method complementing routine tests in wasp venom allergy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin testing can expose allergic subjects to potential systemic reactions, sensitization against unrelated proteins, and increased risk of future sting reactions. Therefore the continuous improvement of in vitro diagnostic methods is desirable. Recombinant allergens have been shown to improve the sensitivity of specific IgE (sIgE) detection in vitro whilst no data is available regarding their application and reliability in basophil activation test (BAT). Here we aimed to compare the specificity and sensitivity of recombinant allergens Ves v 1, Ves v 2, Ves v 3 and Ves v 5 in both specific IgE (sIgE) detection in vitro and basophil activation test.
  
  
  METHODS
  sIgE detection by ELISA or ImmunoCAP and BAT towards the panel of recombinant allergens Ves v 1, Ves v 2, Ves v 3 and Ves v 5 were performed in 43 wasp venom allergic patients with a history of anaphylactic reaction and sIgE seropositivity, as well as 17 controls defined as subjects with a history of repetitive wasp stings but absence of any allergic symptom.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BAT performed with the recombinant allergens Ves v 1, Ves v 2, Ves v 3 and Ves v 5 markedly improved the specificity of diagnosis in wasp venom allergic subjects when compared to the respective sIgE detection in serum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BAT performed with the recombinant allergens Ves v 5, Ves v 3 and Ves v 1 provides an emerging highly specific in vitro method for the detection of wasp venom allergy, compared to the sIgE detection. Recombinant allergens applied to BAT represent a step forward in developing reliable in vitro tests for specific diagnosis of allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.affiliation: ZAUM - Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pennino
authors.affiliation: ZAUM - Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), Technische Universität and Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seismann
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Darsow
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnedler
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ollert
authors.affiliation: Molecular Immunology, Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Durham
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, Immunological Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Edzard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spillner
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Christine Kuhne-center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ring
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Biederstein, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Molecular Immunology, Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom; Christine Kuhne-center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Davos, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cifuentes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C431905:Ves v 5 allergen; D014862:Wasp Venoms