New Frontiers: Precise Editing of Allergen Genes Using CRISPR

Genome engineering with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology offers the unique potential for unequivocally deleting allergen genes at the source. Compared to prior gene editing approaches, CRISPR boasts substantial improvements in editing efficiency, throughput, and precision. CRISPR has demonstrated success in several clinical applications such as sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia, and preliminary knockout studies of allergenic proteins using CRISPR editing show promise. Given the advantages of CRISPR, as well as specific DNA targets in the allergen genes, CRISPR gene editing is a viable approach for tackling allergy, which may lead to significant disease improvement. This review will highlight recent applications of CRISPR editing of allergens, particularly cat allergen Fel d 1, and will discuss the advantages and limitations of this approach compared to existing treatment options.

Deposition Rates of Asthma Triggers on Conventional and Enclosed Window Treatments

Environmental interventions are an important element of managing allergies and asthma. Health professionals often recommend that draperies be replaced with window blinds however no data exist on accumulation of inhalant allergens or inflammatory bioaerosols on window treatments. Installing blinds that accumulate less dust may reduce breathing zone exposures when blinds are adjusted if hazardous amounts of bioaerosols are deposited. We sought to determine the rate of accumulation of dust, allergens, bacterial endotoxin and fungal glucan on window blinds of two distinct types mounted on the two types of windows most commonly installed in U.S. homes. The blinds tested were conventional horizontal slat blinds hanging on the inside of the window (roomside blinds) and similar blinds placed between the exterior window glass and an extra pane of glass on the interior side (between-glass blinds). The study was conducted in six households as a paired, repeated measures study. Households were identified for participation, having met the study criteria of children and cats living inside a carpeted home. Standard window blinds accumulated cat allergen, endotoxin and fungal glucan at rates of 5940ng/m², 1910EU/m², and 11,360ng/m² per month. Between-glass blinds reduced the loading of asthma triggers by 25- to 185-fold. Comparison with clinical thresholds associated with asthma morbidity indicates that room-side blinds accumulate potentially hazardous quantities of asthma triggers.

Differential Correlations among Allergy Tests According to Indoor Allergens in Allergic Rhinitis

Objectives: Several allergy tests are used for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis; however, few studies have reported a direct comparison of the skin prick test (SPT), multiple allergen simultaneous test (MAST), and ImmunoCAP according to specific allergens. This study aimed to evaluate the correlations between each test and allergic rhinitis symptoms and to evaluate the correlations of the MAST and ImmunoCAP with the SPT for representative indoor allergens in Korea. Methods: Electronic medical charts were retrospectively reviewed, and 698 patients with allergic rhinitis who had performed SPT, MAST, and ImmunoCAP were enrolled. Correlations between each allergy test for 4 representative indoor allergens and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis were analyzed. Agreements of the MAST and ImmunoCAP with the SPT were compared according to each allergen. Results: The SPT showed higher correlations with allergic rhinitis symptoms for 4 indoor allergens ( Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, cat, and dog allergens) than the MAST or ImmunoCAP. In comparison between the MAST and SPT, the least correlation was observed for the dog allergen, whereas between the ImmunoCAP and SPT, the least correlation was observed for the cat allergen. The correlation between the ImmunoCAP and SPT was higher than that between the MAST and SPT for the dog allergen, whereas no significant differences were noted for other allergens. Conclusions: Overall, the SPT showed a higher correlation with allergic rhinitis symptoms than the MAST or ImmunoCAP for 4 indoor allergens. ImmunoCAP showed similar reactivity to MAST; however, it showed better positivity with dog allergen in patients who were reactive to the allergen in the SPT. Care should be taken while evaluating dog allergen sensitization using the MAST.

SENSITIZATION TO PET ALLERGENS AMONG THE PATIENTS OF AALERGOLOGIC CLNIC

SENSITIZATION TO PET ALLERGENS AMONG THE PATIENTS OF ALLERGOLOGIC CLINIC M. A. Lykova Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine KIA «Forpost», Kyiv, Ukraine Abstract. The aim: to study the prevalence and structure of sensitization to pet allergens among patients of the allergy clinic. Material and methods of research. The results of a multiplex study (determination of specific IgE to 112 allergenic proteins using the ImmunoCap ISAC test system) in 553 patients who came to the immunology and allergology clinic "Forpost" with complaints of respiratory and / or skin manifestations of allergopathology were analyzed. Results. Sensitization to animal allergens was found in 46.1 % of children of group 1 (0–6 years), 62.8 % of children of group 2 (7–18 years) and 42.6 % of adults. Most patients of all ages (96 %) were also sensitized to other (food and / or inhalation) allergens. In all groups of subjects, sensitization to cat allergens prevailed (44.6 % of all animals sensitized to allergens in the group of children 0–6 years, 43.4 % in the group of children 7–18 years, and 42.7 % in the group of adults) and dogs 12.3 %, 6.6 % and 17.7 % respectively). In all age groups, sensitization to the main cat allergen Fel d1 (uteroglobin) prevailed, in children age groups lipocalin also caused a high frequency of sensitization, in particular Can f1 and Fel d4, while in the adult group the frequency of sensitization to prostatic falkrelin canine was in second place. Conclusions. Animal allergens, especially cats and dogs, play an important role in the development of allergic diseases. Most patients with sensitization to one animal species have specific IgE to cat or dog proteins, suggesting that sensitization to horse and mouse allergens may be more frequent due to cross-reactivity. In the structure of sensitization, the most common allergen in all age groups is the major cat allergen Fel d1. In the younger age group, serum albumin is also important, and in adults — prostatic kallikrein Can f5, which should be considered when choosing the appropriate allergen molecules for diagnosis in patients with hypersensitivity to animal allergens before allergen-specific immunotherapy. Key words: hypersensitivity, sensitization, animal allergens, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma. Maryana A. Lykova Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine Post-graduate student of the department of phthisiology and pulmonology, KIA «Forpost», physician allergist-immunologist 10, M. Amosova str., 03038, Kyiv, Ukraine, [email protected] Аsthma and Allergy, 2021, 3, P. 43–49.