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Allergens identified in subtropical grass pollen

Major allergen components were identified in Johnson grass pollen in recent study results.

“We implemented a strategy to reveal the repertoire of pollen allergens of a grass with clinical importance in subtropical regions, where an increasing proportion of the world’s population resides,” the researchers wrote.

Researchers documented total pollen transcriptome, proteome and allergome of Johnson grass pollen (JGP; Sorghum halepense). Sixty-four patients with grass pollen allergy (median age, 36.5 years; 70.3% female) from subtropical regions in Australia had serum IgE reactivity with pollen and purified allergens assessed.

Purified Sor h 1 had IgE reactivity in 76% of the cohort, and serum IgE with Sor h 13 was identified in 43.8% of patients, both considered “clinically important allergen components in JGP.”

“Within the proteome of whole JGP, multiple peptides” matching numerous grass allergen groups were identified, the researchers said.

JGP transcriptome and proteome also contained pollen allergens confined to subtropical grasses (groups 22-24). Isoforms of Sor h 1, Sor h 2, Sor h 13 and Sor h 23 were contained in the IgE-reactive components of JGP when analyzed by mass spectrometry.

“Our integrated molecular approach revealed qualitative differences between the allergenic components of JGP and temperate grass pollens,” the researchers said. “Allergy to subtropical grass pollen is a global problem likely to increase with climate and demographic change. Identification of major allergen components within clinically relevant subtropical grass pollens will facilitate improved diagnosis and targeted immunotherapy outcomes.”

Disclosure: See the study for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.