IMMUNOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A HYPOALLERGENIC VARIANT OF ANTIGEN 5

SABRINA VINZÓN, NOELIA MASSARI, ELENA RIVERA AND MIRTHA BISCOGLIO DE JIMÉNEZ BONINO

Tucuman

Congreso; SAIB 2009; 2009

Sociedad Argentina de Investigacion Bioquimica

Allergic reactions to stings cause significant morbidity and are sometimes fatal. Immunotherapy reduces the mortality and morbidity of insect sting allergy though effective doses may be impaired by potential systemic reactions allergens could cause. Antigen 5 (Ag5) is the main allergenic protein found in vespid venoms. However, structural and immunological studies already attained in our laboratory suggest that Ag5 from Polybia scutellaris (Poly s5), a South American wasp, is a hypoallergenic variant. The aim of this work is to further characterize this molecule in order to asses its usefulness as a tool in immunotherapy. Poly s5 and an allergenic homolog from Polistes annularis (Pol a5), were expressed as recombinant proteins in Pichia pastoris. They were injected to BALB/c mice and cross-reactivity was determined at the IgG and IgE levels. Results indicate a significant cross-reactivity between both antigens at the IgG level, whereas IgE cross-reactivity is almost negligible. Furthermore, a significant difference in the specific IgE response elicited in mice was observed. All in all, our results lead to the conclusion that Poly s5 is a suitable hypoallergenic candidate for immunotherapy.