m220 rAsp f 3

Allergens within Molds and other Microorganisms

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  • Latin name: Aspergillus fumigatus
  • Source material: An E. coli strain carrying a cloned cDNA encoding Aspergillus fumigatus allergen Asp f 3.
rAsp f 3
Asp f 3 was cloned from a phage displayed cDNA library of A. fumigatus (1,2) using IgE affinity selection. The protein has a molecular weight of 18.5 kD and exhibits structural similarity to a peroxisomal membrane protein from Candida boidinii (3). In a serological analysis of 19 Aspergillus sensitized subjects reported by Hemmann et al. (4), 16 showed IgE antibodies reacting with rAsp f 3.
 
Five different single allergen components from Aspergillus fumigatus have been produced with recombinant technique. Three of these; rAsp f 2, rAsp f 4 and rAsp f 6 have been shown to be dominating allergens in Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) (rAsp f 6: ref 4), but has to be further investigated. ABPA is a complicated-to-diagnose and life-threatening disease. E.g. asthmatics and patients with cystic fibrosis, where ABPA could be a complication, might benefit from the use of these IgE tests with single components.

References:

    1. Crameri, R. and Blaser, K. (1996). Cloning Aspergillus fumigatus allergens by the pJuFo filamentous phage display system. Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 110:41-45.
    2. Crameri, R. (1998). Recombinant Aspergillus fumigatus allergens: from the nucleotide sequence to clinical applications. Int. Arch. Allergy Immunol. 115:99-114.
    3. Hemmann, S., Blaser, K. and Crameri, R. (1997). Allergens from Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida boidinii share IgE-binding epitopes. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 156:1956-1962.
    4. Hemmann, S., Ismail, C., Blaser, K., Menz, G. and Crameri, R. (1998). Skin-test reactivity and isotype-specific immune responses to recombinant Asp f 3, a major allergen of Aspergillus fumigatus. Clin. Exp. Allergy 28:860-867.

2002