title: Allergy to grass pollen: mapping ofDactylis glomerataandPhleum pratenseallergens for dogs by two-dimensional immunoblotting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Much less is known about grass-pollen allergens to dogs, when compared with humans. Genetic-based patterns might play an important role in sensitization profiles, conditioning the success of allergen-specific immunotherapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Mapping ofDactylis glomerata(D. glomerata) andPhleum pratense(P. pratense) allergens for grass pollen-sensitized atopic dogs, for better understanding how individual allergograms may influence the response to grass-pollen immunotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  To identifyD. glomerataandP. pratenseallergoms for dogs, 15 individuals allergic to grass pollen and sensitized toD. glomerata and P. pratensewere selected.D. glomerataandP. pratenseproteomes were separated by isoelectric focusing (IEF), one-dimensional (1-D) and two-dimensional (2-D) sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Separated proteins were blotted ontoPolyvinylidene difluoride(PVDF) membranes and allergens were identified by patient sera IgE in Western Blotting (WB).
  
  
  RESULTS
  InD. glomerata, 17 allergens were identified from IEF and 11 from 1-D SDS-PAGE, while fromP. pratense, 18 and 6 allergens were identified, respectively. From 2-D SDS-PAGE 13 spots were identified fromD. glomerataand 27 fromP. pratense.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several similarities were found between dog and humanD. glomerataandP. pratensesensitization profiles but no relationship between clinical signs and a specific pattern of allergen recognition was observed. Similarities were found in each patient pattern of sensitization betweenD. glomerataandP. pratense, also suggesting cross-reactive phenomena. Further molecular epidemiology approach is needed to understand the role of the sensitization pattern in allergen-specific immunotherapy effectiveness in grass-pollen allergic dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal; Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Science (ICAAM), University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís Miguel Lourenço
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Andreia Grilo
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Science (ICAAM), University of Évora, Évora, Portugal; Escola Superior Agrária de Elvas, Polytechnique Institute of Portalegre, Elvas, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luísa Maria Dotti Silva
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, GEE, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracaju, Brazil.
authors.forename: Saul José
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Semião-Santos
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mediterranean Agricultural and Environmental Science (ICAAM), University of Évora, Évora, Portugal; Department of Animal Science, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ofélia Pereira
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Bento
keywords: allergens; atopy; dog; grass pollen allergens; immunoblotting