title: Mimotopes for Api g 5, a Relevant Cross-reactive Allergen, in the Celery-Mugwort-Birch-Spice Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the celery-mugwort-birch-spice syndrome, a significant proportion of IgE is directed against high molecular weight (HMW) glycoproteins, including the celery allergen Api g 5. BIP3, a monoclonal antibody originally raised against birch pollen, recognizes HMW allergens in birch and mugwort pollens, celery, and Apiaceae spices. Our aim was to generate mimotopes using BIP3 for immunization against the HMW allergens relevant in the celery-mugwort-birch-spice cross reactivity syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mimotopes were selected from a random-peptide display library by BIP3 and applied in IgE inhibition assays. The 3 phage clones with the highest inhibitory capacity were chosen for immunization of BALB/c mice. Mouse immune sera were tested for IgG binding to blotted birch pollen extract and used for inhibiting patients' IgE binding. Furthermore, sera were tested for binding to Api g 5, to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as a second glycoprotein, or to non-glycosylated control allergen Phl p 5 in ELISA, and the specific Api g 5-specific IgG titers were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three rounds of biopanning resulted in phage clones exhibiting 7 different sequences including 1 dominant, 1-6-cyclo-CHKLRCDKAIA. Three phage clones had the capacity to inhibit human IgE binding and induced IgG to the HMW antigen when used for immunizing BALB/c mice. The induced BIP3-mimotope IgG reached titers of 1:500 specifically to Api g 5, but hardly reacted to glycoprotein HRP, revealing a minor role of carbohydrates in their epitope.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mimotopes characterized in this study mimic the epitope of BIP3 relevant for Api g 5, one of the cross-reactive HMW allergens relevant in the celery-mugwort-birch-spice syndrome. BIP3 mimotopes may be used in the future for hyposensitization in this clinical syndrome by virtue of good and specific immunogenicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukschal
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wallmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Merima
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bublin
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerlinde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hofstetter
authors.affiliation: AllergyCare, Allergy Diagnosis and Study Center, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mothes-Luksch
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Heimo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Breiteneder
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pali-Schöll
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Medicine, Messerli Research Institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Department of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. erika.jensenjarolim@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jensen-Jarolim
keywords: Celery-mugwort-birch-spice syndrome; IgE Epitopes; food hypersensitivity; high molecular weight (HMW) allergens; mimotope; vaccination