m221 rAsp f 4

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 4.
rAsp f 4
As in the case of Asp f 3, Asp f 4 was cloned from a phage display cDNA library (1,2). The protein has a molecular weight of approximately 30 kD and lacks similarity to other known proteins. The recombinant protein has been used to characterise immunological responses in subjects sensitised to A. fumigatus and in those suffering from bronchial colonisation by the fungus(3, 4, 5).
 
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., Nikolaizik, W. H., Schöni, M. H., Blaser, K. and Crameri, R. (1998). Differential IgE recognition of recombinant Aspergillus fumigatus allergens by cystic fibrosis patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or Aspergillus allergy. Eur. J. Immunol. 28:1155-1160.
    4. Hemmann, S., Menz, G., Ismail, C., Blaser, K. and Crameri, R. (1999). Skin test reactivity to two recombinant Aspergillus fumigatus allergens in A fumigatus-sensitized asthmatic subjects allows diagnostic separation of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis from fungal sensitization. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 104:601-607.
    5. Crameri, R., Hemmann, S., Ismail, C., Menz, G. and Blaser, K. (1998). Disease-specific recombinant allergens for the diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Int. Immunol. 10:1211-2116.

2002