Abstract: Compositions and methods for providing infant nutrition with partially hydrolysed proteins and non-digestible oligosaccharides for use in induction of oral tolerance against native dietary proteins.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the preparation of purified allergens and allergoids, both derived from whole bee venom, for the desensitization (immunotherapy) of subjects affected by a specific allergy. In particular, the present invention concerns a preparation for immunotherapy based on purified bee venom, characterized in that said bee venom is essentially mellitin-free. In addition, the preparation of a monomeric allergoid obtainable through the carbamylation or thiocarbamylation reaction of said mellitin-free bee venom, is described. Said allergoid, being characterized by reduced IgE-binding activity, may be a safer and more effective candidate for specific immunotherapy.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for providing infant nutrition with partially hydrolysed proteins and non-digestible oligosaccharides for use in induction of oral tolerance against native dietary proteins.

Abstract: Immunogenic compositions are described herein which comprise microparticles that further comprise a biodegradable polymer. The microparticle compositions also comprise a cationic polysaccharide and an immunological species selected from an antigen, an immunological adjuvant and a combination thereof. Also described are methods of making such compositions and methods of administering such compositions. Methods of modulating the release rate of immunological species from microparticles are also described. These methods comprise varying the ratio of the cationic polysaccharide relative to the biodegradable polymer within the microparticles.

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 process for producing an allergen extract from a biological allergen source material comprising the steps of a) contacting the source material with a liquid extraction agent to produce a allergen extract mixture containing allergens dissolved in a liquid phase and a solid phase consisting of source material residues, b) subjecting the allergen extract mixture to a first separation step to remove the solid phase to produce a crude allergen extract, c) subjecting the crude allergen extract to a low molecular fraction removal step to remove molecules having a molecular size of less than 10 kDa, and d) carrying out step c) until the allergen extract has conductivity of below 2000 ?S/cm at 25° C. to obtain a purified allergen extract.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing an allergen extract from a biological allergen source material comprising the steps of a) contacting the source material with a liquid extraction agent to produce a allergen extract mixture containing allergens dissolved in a liquid phase and a solid phase consisting of source material residues, b) subjecting the allergen extract mixture to a first separation step to remove the solid phase to produce a crude allergen extract, c) subjecting the crude allergen extract to a low molecular fraction removal step to remove molecules having a molecular size of less than 10 kDa, and d) carrying out step c) until the allergen extract has conductivity of below 2000 ?S/cm at 25° C. to obtain a purified allergen extract.

Abstract: A substantially pure, isolated, antigenic protein from fungi of the genus Malassezia, characterized in that said antigenic protein has a binding ability to IgE antibodies from patients with allergoses; an antigenic fragment derived from the antigenic protein; and an antibody against the antigenic protein or fragments thereof. According to the present invention, there can be provided an isolated and purified antigenic protein having high purity from Malassezia, antigenic fragments thereof, and a specific antibody against those antigenic protein or fragments thereof. In addition, there can be provided a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a prophylactic drug for Malassezia allergoses, wherein the agent includes, as an active ingredient, the antigenic protein or fragments thereof.

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: The present invention provides isolated peptides of Lol p V, a major protein allergen of the species Lolium perenne. Therapeutic peptides within the scope of the invention comprise at least one T cell epitope, or preferably at least two T cell epitopes of a protein allergen of Lol p V. Diagnostic peptides within the scope of the invention bind IgE. The invention also provides modified peptides having similar or enhanced therapeutic properties or other desirable properties as the corresponding, naturally-occurring allergen or portion thereof. The invention further provides nucleic acid sequences coding for peptides of the invention. Use of the therapeutic compositions comprising one or more peptides of the invention in the manufacture of medicaments for treating sensitivity to Lol p V or an allergen immunologically related to Lol p V, or for general ryegrass sensitivity in an individual, is also provided.

Abstract: Chlorella extracts containing high molecular weight Chlorella polysaccharide and polysaccharide complexes show immune modulatory, specifically immune stimulatory, activity. The polysaccharide and polysaccharide complexes contain glucose and any combination of: galactose, rhamnose, mannose and arabinose, as well as N-acetyl glucosamine and N-acetyl galactosamine. The extracts may be treated with pronase, DNAse, RNAse and proteases to remove unassociated nucleic acids, ribonucleic acids and proteins. The extracts may also undergo treatment to effect cleavage of specific glycosidic linkages, the linkages being defined by their susceptibility to cleavage by amylase, amyloglucosidase, cellulase or neuraminidase. Chlorella extracts may be administered to a mammal to increase proliferation of splenocytes and increase production of cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10, INF-? and TNF-?. They may be used as a supplement to a vaccination regimen.

Abstract: Chlorella extracts containing high molecular weight Chlorella polysaccharide and polysaccharide complexes show immune modulatory, specifically immune stimulatory, activity. The polysaccharide and polysaccharide complexes contain glucose and any combination of: galactose, rhamnose, mannose and arabinose, as well as N-acetyl glucosamine and N-acetyl galactosamine. The extracts may be treated with pronase, DNAse, RNAse and proteases to remove unassociated nucleic acids, ribonucleic acids and proteins. The extracts may also undergo treatment to effect cleavage of specific glycosidic linkages, the linkages being defined by their susceptibility to cleavage by amylase, amyloglucosidase, cellulase or neuraminidase. Chlorella extracts may be administered to a mammal to increase proliferation of splenocytes and increase production of cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10, INF-? and TNF-?. They may be used as a supplement to a vaccination regimen.

Abstract: A substantially pure, isolated, antigenic protein from fungi of the genus Malassezia, characterized in that said antigenic protein has a binding ability to IgE antibodies from patients with allergies; an antigenic fragment derived from the antigenic protein; and an antibody against the antigenic protein or fragments thereof. According to the present invention, there can be provided an isolated and purified antigenic protein having high purity from Malassezia, antigenic fragments thereof, and a specific antibody against those antigenic protein or fragments thereof. In addition, there can be provided a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a prophylactic drug for Malassezia allergies, wherein the agent includes, as an active ingredient, the antigenic protein or fragments thereof.

Abstract: Thioredoxin, a small dithiol protein, is a specific reductant for allergenic proteins and particularly allergenic proteins present in pollen and animal and plant sources. All targeted proteins contain disulfide (S—S) bonds that are reduced to the sulfhydryl (SH) level by thioredoxin. The proteins are allergenically active and less digestible in the oxidized (S—S) state. When reduced (SH state), they lose their allergenicity and/or become more digestible. Thioredoxin achieved this reduction when activated (reduced) either by NADPH via NADP-thioredoxin reductase (physiological conditions) or by lipoic acid chemical reductant. Skin tests carried out with sensitized dogs showed that treatment of the pollens with reduced thioredoxin prior to injection eliminated or decreased the allergenicity of the pollen. Studies showed increased digestion of the pollen proteins by pepsin following reduction by thioredoxin.

Abstract: A substantially pure, isolated, antigenic protein from fungi of the genus Malassezia, characterized in that said antigenic protein has a binding ability to IgE antibodies from patients with allergoses; an antigenic fragment derived from the antigenic protein; and an antibody against the antigenic protein or fragments thereof. According to the present invention, there can be provided an isolated and purified antigenic protein having high purity from Malassezia, antigenic fragments thereof, and a specific antibody against those antigenic protein or fragments thereof. In addition, there can be provided a diagnostic agent, a therapeutic agent, or a prophylactic drug for Malassezia allergoses, wherein the agent includes, as an active ingredient, the antigenic protein or fragments thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a human reguslator of G-protein signaling (HRGS) and polynucleotides which identify and encode HRGS. The invention also provides genetically engineered expression vectors and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences encoding HRGS and a method for producing HRGS. The invention also provides for agonists, antibodies, or antagonists specifically binding HRGS, and their use, in the prevention and treatment of diseases associated with expression of HRGS. Additionally, the invention provides for the use of antisense molecules to polynucleotides encoding HRGS for the treatment of diseases associated with the expression of HRGS. The invention also provides diagnostic assays which utilize the polynucleotide, or fragments or the complement thereof, and antibodies specifically binding HRGS.

Abstract: Antigen E or Amb a I of ragweed pollen has been shown to be a family or families of proteins. cDNAs encoding Amb a I, the major human allergen of ragweed and Amb a II, peptides derived from Amb a I or Amb a II, antibodies against the peptides; and methods of treating individuals for sensitivity to ragweed are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid sequences coding for two ryegrass pollen allergen Lol p Ib family members, purified Lol p Ib.1 and Lol p Ib.2 proteins and fragments thereof, methods of producing recombinant Lol p Ib.1 or Lol p Ib.2 or at least one fragment thereof or derivative or homologue thereof, and methods of using the nucleic acid sequences, proteins and peptides of the invention.

Abstract: An immunogenic protein (DV 18) isolated from lungworm Dictyocaulus viviparus including variants and fragments thereof, are described. DNA encoding such protein, methods of isolating and preparing such protein, antibodies against such protein, immunoassays using such protein, a vaccine containg such protein, and methods of immunizing a mammal with such vaccine are also described.