Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal: Frontiers in Allergy

Volume number: 4

eISSN: 2673-6101

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3389/falgy.2023.1327391

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Abstract: 
Hymenoptera venom (HV) allergy can lead to life threatening conditions by specific IgE (sIgE)-mediated anaphylactic reactions. The knowledge about major allergens from venom of different clinically relevant species increased in the last decades, allowing the development of component-resolved diagnostics in which sIgE to single allergens is analysed. Despite these advances, the precise regions of the allergens that bind to IgE are only known for few HV allergens. The detailed characterization of IgE epitopes may provide valuable information to improve immunodiagnostic tests and to develop new therapeutic strategies using allergen-derived peptides or other targeted approaches. Epitope-resolved analysis is challenging, since the identification of conformational epitopes present in many allergens demands complex technologies for molecular analyses. Furthermore, functional analysis of the epitopes interaction with their respective ligands is needed to distinguish epitopes that can activate the allergic immune response, from those that are recognized by irrelevant antibodies or T cell receptors from non-effector cells. In this review, we focus on the use of mapping and molecular targeting approaches for characterization of the epitopes of the major venom allergens of clinically relevant Hymenoptera species. The screening of the most relevant allergen peptides by epitope mapping could be helpful for the development of molecules that target major and immunodominant epitopes blocking the allergen induced cellular reactions as novel approach for the treatment of HV allergy.

Harvard Citation style: Fernandes, L., Spillner, E. and Jakob, T. (2023) Potential and limitations of epitope mapping and molecular targeting in Hymenoptera venom allergy, Frontiers in Allergy, 4, Article 1327391. https://doi.org/10.3389/falgy.2023.1327391

APA Citation style: Fernandes, L., Spillner, E., & Jakob, T. (2023). Potential and limitations of epitope mapping and molecular targeting in Hymenoptera venom allergy. Frontiers in Allergy. 4, Article 1327391. https://doi.org/10.3389/falgy.2023.1327391