Abstract: Provided are peptide biomarkers for diagnosis of allergy, monitoring development of clinical tolerance in an allergic individual, and predicting whether an allergic subject is likely to develop clinical or natural tolerance over time. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods and diagnostic kits employing the peptide biomarkers.

Abstract: Provided are peptide biomarkers for diagnosis of allergy, monitoring development of clinical tolerance in an allergic individual, and predicting whether an allergic subject is likely to develop clinical or natural tolerance over time. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods and diagnostic kits employing the peptide biomarkers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides peptide biomarkers, including methods and kits employing the same, for diagnosis of peanut allergy, and tolerance thereto, and for determining whether an allergic subject is likely to outgrow the allergy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to extracts of Sophora Flavescens, and compounds isolated therefrom for use in modulating airway smooth muscle contractility. Methods of creating enriched extracts of Sophora Flavescens are disclosed, as are specific compounds isolated therefrom. Methods for the treatment of disorders involving airway smooth muscle, such as asthma, using the compounds and extracts described herein are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are peptide biomarkers for diagnosis of allergy, monitoring development of clinical tolerance in an allergic individual, and predicting whether an allergic subject is likely to develop clinical or natural tolerance over time. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods and diagnostic kits employing the peptide biomarkers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to materials and methods that may be used in diagnosing and/or characterizing allergies. More specifically, the specification describes methods and compositions for making and using a plurality of peptides having allergen epitopes that may be used in immunoassays e.g., microarray based immunoassays to predict the severity of an allergic response.

Abstract: The disclosure provides materials and methods for diagnosing, treating and preventing shellfish allergic reactions, including allergic reactions to shrimp. The technology involves one or more shellfish-specific proteins selected from the group of myosin light chain, sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein, hemocyanin, fatty acid binding protein, and troponin C, for example from shrimp, as well as encoding polynucleotides, vectors host cells, and specific binding partners for such proteins, e.g., antibodies. In compositions comprising a plurality of shellfish allergens, any of the aforementioned proteins may be included, as may arginine kinase and tropomyosin. The methods according to the disclosure include methods of making the specific binding partners such as antibodies as well as methods of using the materials of the disclosure to diagnose, treat or prevent an allergic reaction to shellfish, e.g., shrimp.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing allergic responses, particularly anaphylactic allergic responses, in subjects who are allergic to allergens or susceptible to allergies. Methods of the present invention utilize administration of microorganisms to subjects, where the microorganisms produce allergens and protect the subjects from exposure to the allergens until phagocytosed by antigen-presenting cells. Particularly preferred microorganisms are gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and yeast. Particularly preferred allergens are proteins found in foods, venoms, drugs and latex that elicit allergic reactions and anaphylactic allergic reactions in individuals who are allergic to the proteins or are susceptible to allergies to the proteins. The proteins may also be modified to reduce the ability of the proteins to bind and crosslink IgE antibodies and thereby reduce the risk of eliciting anaphylaxis without affecting T-cell mediated Th1-type immunity.

Abstract: Methods for performing epitope mapping, and for characterizing the antibody binding affinity and epitope diversity of antibodies in a sample using peptide microarray are provided. In some aspects, methods are provided for the specific characterization of IgE and IgG4. Also disclosed are methods for diagnosing whether a milk-allergic individual will outgrow his or her allergy based on the characterization of the individual's milk allergen-specific IgE antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing allergic responses, particularly anaphylactic allergic responses, in subjects who are allergic to allergens or susceptible to allergies. Methods of the present invention utilize administration of microorganisms to subjects, where the microorganisms produce allergens and protect the subjects from exposure to the allergens until phagocytosed by antigen-presenting cells. Particularly preferred microorganisms are gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and yeast. Particularly preferred allergens are proteins found in foods, venoms, drugs and latex that elicit allergic reactions and anaphylactic allergic reactions in individuals who are allergic to the proteins or are susceptible to allergies to the proteins. The proteins may also be modified to reduce the ability of the proteins to bind and crosslink IgE antibodies and thereby reduce the risk of eliciting anaphylaxis without affecting T-cell mediated Th1-type immunity.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing allergic responses, particularly anaphylactic allergic responses, in subjects who are allergic to allergens or susceptible to allergies. Methods of the present invention utilize administration of microorganisms to subjects, where the microorganisms produce allergens and protect the subjects from exposure to the allergens until phagocytosed by antigen-presenting cells. Particularly preferred microorganisms are gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and yeast. Particularly preferred allergens are proteins found in foods, venoms, drugs and latex that elicit allergic reactions and anaphylactic allergic reactions in individuals who are allergic to the proteins or are susceptible to allergies to the proteins. The proteins may also be modified to reduce the ability of the proteins to bind and crosslink IgE antibodies and thereby reduce the risk of eliciting anaphylaxis without affecting T-cell mediated Th1-type immunity.

Abstract: It has been determined that allergens, which are characterized by both humoral (IgE) and cellular (T-cell) binding sites, can be modified to be less allergenic by modifying the IgE binding sites. The IgE binding sites can be converted to non-IgE binding sites by altering as little as a single amino acid within the protein, preferably a hydrophobic residue towards the center of the IgE epitope, to eliminate IgE binding. Additionally or alternatively a modified allergen with reduced IgE binding may be prepared by disrupting one or more of the disulfide bonds that are present in the natural allergen. The disulfide bonds may be disrupted chemically, e.g., by reduction and alkylation or by mutating one or more cysteine residues present in the primary amino acid sequence of the natural allergen. In certain embodiments, modified allergens are prepared by both altering one or more linear IgE epitopes and disrupting one or more disulfide bonds of the natural allergen.

Abstract: The disclosure provides materials and methods for diagnosing, treating and preventing shellfish allergic reactions, including allergic reactions to shrimp. The technology involves one or more shellfish-specific proteins selected from the group of myosin light chain, sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein, hemocyanin, fatty acid binding protein, and troponin C, for example from shrimp, as well as encoding polynucleotides, vectors host cells, and specific binding partners for such proteins, e.g., antibodies. In compositions comprising a plurality of shellfish allergens, any of the aforementioned proteins may be included, as may arginine kinase and tropomyosin. The methods according to the disclosure include methods of making the specific binding partners such as antibodies as well as methods of using the materials of the disclosure to diagnose, treat or prevent an allergic reaction to shellfish, e.g., shrimp.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing allergic reactions, particularly anaphylactic reactions. Methods of the present invention involve administering microorganisms to allergic subjects, where the microorganisms contain a recombinant version of the protein allergen. The recombinant version can be wild-type or may include mutations within IgE epitopes of the protein allergen. Preferably the compositions are administered rectally. Particularly preferred microorganisms are bacteria such as E. coli. Any allergen may be used in the inventive methods. Particularly preferred allergens are anaphylactic allergens including protein allergens found in foods, venoms, drugs and latex. The inventive compositions and methods are demonstrated in the treatment of peanut-induced anaphylaxis.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing allergic responses, particularly anaphylactic allergic responses, in subjects who are allergic to allergens or susceptible to allergies. Methods of the present invention utilize administration of microorganisms to subjects, where the microorganisms produce allergens and protect the subjects from exposure to the allergens until phagocytosed by antigen-presenting cells. Particularly preferred microorganisms are gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and yeast. Particularly preferred allergens are proteins found in foods, venoms, drugs and latex that elicit allergic reactions and anaphylactic allergic reactions in individuals who are allergic to the proteins or are susceptible to allergies to the proteins. The proteins may also be modified to reduce the ability of the proteins to bind and crosslink IgE antibodies and thereby reduce the risk of eliciting anaphylaxis without affecting T-cell mediated Th1-type immunity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for predicting or diagnosing a hazelnut-induced systemic reaction, and for methods for treating such a reaction.

Abstract: Methods for performing epitope mapping, and for characterizing the antibody binding affinity and epitope diversity of antibodies in a sample using peptide microarray are provided. In some aspects, methods are provided for the specific characterization of IgE and IgG4. Also disclosed are methods for diagnosing whether a milk-allergic individual will outgrow his or her allergy based on the characterization of the individual's milk allergen-specific IgE antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating or preventing allergic responses, particularly anaphylactic allergic responses, in subjects who are allergic to allergens or susceptible to allergies. Methods of the present invention utilize administration of microorganisms to subjects, where the microorganisms produce allergens and protect the subjects from exposure to the allergens until phagocytosed by antigen-presenting cells. Particularly preferred microorganisms are gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, and yeast. Particularly preferred allergens are proteins found in foods, venoms, drugs and latex that elicit allergic reactions and anaphylactic allergic reactions in individuals who are allergic to the proteins or are susceptible to allergies to the proteins. The proteins may also be modified to reduce the ability of the proteins to bind and crosslink IgE antibodies and thereby reduce the risk of eliciting anaphylaxis without affecting T-cell mediated Th1-type immunity.

Abstract: It has been determined that allergens, which are characterized by both humoral (IgE) and cellular (T cell) binding sites, can be modified to be less allergenic by modifying the IgE binding sites. The IgE binding sites can be converted to non-IgE binding sites by masking the site with a compound that prevents IgE binding or by altering as little as a single amino acid within the protein, most typically a hydrophobic residue towards the center of the IgE-binding epitope, to eliminate IgE binding. The method allows the protein to be altered as minimally as possible, other than-within the IgE-binding sites, while retaining the ability of the protein to activate T cells, and, in some embodiments by not significantly altering or decreasing IgG binding capacity The examples use peanut allergens to demonstrate alteration of IgE binding sites. The critical amino acids within each of the IgE binding epitopes of the peanut protein that are important to immunoglobulin binding have been determined.

Abstract: The present invention provides herbal formulas, and compositions thereof, that can treat or reduce the severity, intensity, or duration of asthma and asthma-related symptoms. The compositions may optionally include one or more adjuvants, cytokines, encapsulating materials, or pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients, and may be administered prior to, during, or after the development of asthmatic symptoms in a patient in need thereof.