Abstract: A method of providing a clinical decision support in allergy diagnosis comprises the steps of: a) providing a body fluid sample from a patient, b) selecting a plurality of allergens to be tested for in the sample, c) determining for each allergen the concentration in the sample of at least one immunoglobulin directed against the allergen, d) transforming each determined immunoglobulin concentration to a clinical effect value on a normalized scale common to allergens in general, e) assigning to each allergen tested for, based on known cross-reactivity information for the allergen, an allergen specificity value, representing the degree of cross-reactivity for the allergen, and f) presenting determined clinical effect and allergen specificity values for each allergen, or a group or groups of the allergens. A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a patient information carrier device containing a diagnosis result are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for desensitization of a mammal suffering from IgE mediated allergy comprise the steps of: administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of an immunogenic and hypoallergenic composition which comprises (i) a Phl p 6 molecule having an N-terminal truncation which makes the molecule at least lack IgE binding capacity, and/or (ii) a Phl p 6 molecule having a C-terminal truncation which makes the molecule at least lack IgE binding capacity, wherein the molecules of (i) and (ii), if employed in combination, together span the complete sequence of Phl p 6, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: An isolated horse allergen is disclosed which is a secretoglobin having a molecular weight of 15 kDa under non-reducing conditions and comprising a first peptide chain having a molecular weight of about 5 kDa and a second peptide chain having a molecular weight of about 10 kDa linked together, and variants and fragments thereof sharing epitopes for antibodies therewith. The use of the allergen in diagnosis and therapy is also disclosed as well as a diagnostic kit and a pharmaceutical composition containing the allergen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for estimation of kinetic characteristics for the formation and dissociation of a complex using lateral flow. The present invention facilitates an easy to use method with high accuracy.

Abstract: Lateral flow assay devices and methods for detecting an analyte in a sample which comprises a plurality of nonspecific binding pair members are adapted for two step determinations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a peptide comprising a symmetrical dimethylated arginine, and constitute an immunologic determinant of antibodies present in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and wherein the methylation is a prerequisite for reacting with said antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of said peptide for diagnosis of SLE and the differentiation between SLE and MCTD.

Abstract: A read-out method for a diagnostic point-of-care assay device, the device including a read-out substrate having at least one response area capable of producing a coloured indication of a response, the response area including a marker at least one marker whose colour changes in response to binding of an analyte thereto and which is used for indication of response. The method includes registering an image of the response area; calculating a colour saturation value S for the image using at least two distinct wavelengths; using the S-value for determining a result of the assay. A read-out system (10) for an allergy point-of-care assay device is described. The system includes an illumination device (12; 21, 22) capable of delivering at least two different wavelengths of light; a colour image capturing device (14); a control unit (19) for calculating a colour saturation value on images recorded by the colour image capturing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hypoallergenic immunogenic molecule derived from the Phl p 6 allergen, wherein the Phl p6 molecule has an N-terminal and/or C-terminal deletion which makes the molecule at least substantially lack IgE binding capacity. The invention also relates to a hypoallergenic immunogenic combination of molecules derived from the Phl p 6 allergen, comprising (i) a Phl p 6 molecule having an N-terminal deletion which makes the molecule at least substantially lack IgE binding capacity, and (ii) a Phl p 6 molecule having a C-terminal deletion which makes the molecule at least substantially lack IgE binding capacity, which two molecules together encompass the complete sequence of Phl p 6. The invention further relates to the use of the hypoallergenic immunogenic molecule or molecule mixture in hyposensitization and diagnosis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hypoallergenic immunogenic molecule derived from the Phl p 6 allergen, wherein the Phl p 6 molecule has an N-terminal and/or C-terminal deletion which makes the molecule at least substantially lack IgE binding capacity. The invention also relates to a hypoallergenic immunogenic combination of molecules derived from the Phl p 6 allergen, comprising (i) a Phl p 6 molecule having an N-terminal deletion which makes the molecule at least substantially lack IgE binding capacity, and (ii) a Phl p 6 molecule having a C-terminal deletion which makes the molecule at least substantially lack IgE binding capacity, which two molecules together encompass the complete sequence of Phl p 6. The invention further relates to the use of the hypoallergenic immunogenic molecule or molecule mixture in hyposensitization and diagnosis.

Abstract: A method for use in a flow matrix, which utilizes biospecific affinity reactions to detect an analyte in the sample, and which comprises allowing the sample comprising the analyte and an analytically detectable reactant (Reactant*) to migrate through flow channels in a flow matrix to a detection zone located in the matrix, in which there is a firmly anchored biospecific affinity reactant (Capturer), and capturing the Reactant* in the detection zone in an amount related to the amount of analyte in the sample. The Reactant* has labeled particles of an analytically detectable group, and the Capturer is anchored to the matrix by immobilized particles which exhibit hydrophilic groups on their surface. A test kit comprises a flow matrix having a detection zone in which there is a firmly anchored biospecific affinity reactant (Capturer), and an analytically detectable reactant (Reactant*).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the estimation of the amount of subtypes of specific cells, for example the number of certain subtypes of leukocytes, by measurements of unique proteins in extracts of blood and other biological material. The knowledge of the number or amount of specific subtypes of white cells is important in the clinical diagnosis and surveillance of subjects with inflammatory disease including infectious disease, cancer, allergy/asthma etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to group 2 allergen specific IgE-Fabs and whole Ig molecules as well as use thereof. More precisely, the present invention relates to grass pollen specific IgE-Fabs (Phl p2) and reagents, kits and vaccines comprising these. The invention also relates to use of group 2 specific IgE-Fabs and whole Ig for, inter alia, diagnosis, therapy and prevention of type I allergy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel allergen from timothy grass (Phleum pretense) pollen, Phl p11 as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:2, and use thereof as a reagent and in a diagnositic kit as well as for immunotherapy.

Abstract: A recombinant DNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence (I) which codes for a polypeptide displaying the antigenicity of one, two or more of the Phl p I epitope clones (28, 34, 41, 42, 43, 45, 50, 52, 64, 80, 85, 86, 95, 97, 98, 103, 108, 109, 113, 114), with the amino acid sequences defined in SEQ ID NOS: 5, 7, 9 and 12–28, and preferably being derived from grasses or monocotyledonic plants, or a nucleotide sequence (II) which hybridizes with such a nucleotide sequence (I) under conditions of high, stringency. Polypeptides displaying the antigenicity of one, two or more of the Phl p I epitope clones (28, 34, 41, 42, 43, 50, 52, 64, 80, 85, 86, 95, 97, 98, 103, 108, 109, 113, 114). Recombinant expression vectors containing the recombinant molecule and host cells transformed with the vector. Diagnostic methods based on utilizing the polypeptides in immunoassays for humoral antibodies and cellular reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel drug candidate having a potential for universal therapy of allergy and asthma. The invention provides a Fab (antibody fragment), having the following characteristics: a) inhibits the IgE-Fc?RI interaction; b) binds to free and cell-bound IgE; and c) is non-anaphylactic.