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Discriminating Polistes dominula and Vespula spp. venom allergy is of growing importance worldwide, as systemic reactions to either species' sting can lead to severe outcomes. Administering the correct allergen-specific immunotherapy is therefore a prerequisite to ensure the safety and health of venom-allergic patients. Component-resolved diagnostics of Hymenoptera venom allergy might be improved by adding additional allergens to the diagnostic allergen panel. Therefore, three potential new allergens from P. dominula venom-immune responsive protein 30 (IRP30), vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF C) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-were cloned, recombinantly produced and biochemically characterized. Sera sIgE titers of Hymenoptera venom-allergic patients were measured in vitro to assess the allergenicity and potential cross-reactivity of the venom proteins. IRP30 and VEGF C were classified as minor allergens, as sensitization rates lay around 20-40%. About 50% of P. dominula venom-allergic patients had measurable sIgE titers directed against PLA2 from P. dominula venom. Interestingly, PLA2 was unable to activate basophils of allergic patients, questioning its role in the context of clinically relevant sensitization. Although the obtained results hint to a questionable benefit of the characterized P. dominula venom proteins for improved diagnosis of venom-allergic patients, they can contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Hymenoptera venoms and to the identification of factors that determine the allergenic potential of proteins.

Allergic reactions to stings of Hymenoptera species can have serious or even fatal consequences. If the identification of the culprit insect is possible, venom-specific immunotherapy effectively cures Hymenoptera venom allergies. Although component-resolved diagnostics has strongly evolved in recent years, the differentiation between allergies to closely related species such as Polistes dominula and Vespula spp. is still challenging. In order to generate the basis for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, this study aims at resolving the venom proteomes (venomes) of these species. The venoms of P. dominula and Vespula spp. ( V. germanica , V. vulgaris ) were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Resulting proteins were characterized regarding their function, localization and biochemical properties. The analyses yielded 157 proteins in Vespula spp. and 100 in P. dominula venom; 48 proteins, including annotated allergens, were found in both samples. In addition to a variety of venom trace molecules, new allergen candidates such as icarapin-like protein and phospholipase A2 were identified. This study elucidates the venomes of closely related allergy-eliciting Hymenoptera species. The data indicates that relying on marker allergens to differentiate between P. dominula and Vespula spp. venom allergy is probably insufficient and that strategies using cross-reactive major allergens could be more promising.

Background: Intense and persistent exposure to indoor-air biological agents has been associated with the appearance of allergic diseases. Archives and libraries Indoor environments in tropical countries are an important reservoir of fungal propagules., Objective: To evaluate the degree of air pollution with allergenic fungi in a repository of frequently-manipulated documents., Methods: Air sampling was performed by two methods: active (biocollector) and passive (sedimentation plate). Fungi were taxonomically identified, and spores were measured to determine their penetrability in the human respiratory tract, and its impact on episodes of allergy., Results: In terms of concentration and diversity, the local environment behaved as a fungal propagule reservoir, which showed that there is significant health risk for the staff that manipulates the documents. Some spores were shown to be able to reach the lower respiratory tract when inhaled, which increases their allergenic and pathogenic potential. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium and Alternaria, which are referred to as highly allergenic fungi, were prevalent., Conclusion: Aerobiological studies are a valuable tool for the treatment of patients with allergy to fungi and other disorders they produce.

Nucleic acid amplification is a sensitive and powerful tool for allergen detection. However, it is limited due to the relatively cumbersome methods required to extract nucleic acids from single plant seed allergen (e.g. peanut and soybean). In view of this, an approach of extracting nucleic acid with untreated glass-fiber paper (paper-based microfluidics) was applied for nucleic acid capture and purification from plant seed allergen and commercial products. After cut by hollow cylindrical cutter, a certain size the paper chip it used to absorb DNA. And this paper-based microfluidics with DNA was directly applied for amplification by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). To evaluate the adsorption performance of paper chip to DNA, CTAB and SDS method were used as comparisons. From amplification results, the established technique has good specificity, high repeatability (C.V. values are 4.41% and 6.17% for peanut and soybean) and favorable sensitivity (7.39 ng/μL or peanut and 6.6 ng/μL for soybean), and successfully used for commercial products (2 kinds of candy and 2 kinds of cakes containing peanut, and 2 kinds of drinks, candy and 2 kinds of biscuits containing soybean). This speed and flexible detection method makes it suit for applications in point-of-care (POC) detection at different scenario, such as custom house and import port. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Molecular diagnosis in allergology helps to identify multiple allergenic molecules simultaneously. The use of purified and/or recombinant allergens increases the accuracy of individual sensitization profiles in allergic patients., Objective: To assess the impact of molecular diagnosis through the ImmunoCAP TM ISAC 112 microarray on etiological diagnosis and specific immunotherapy (SIT) prescription. This was compared to the use of conventional diagnoses in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients with rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis and/or allergic asthma, sensitized to three or more pollen allergens of different botanical species., Methods: A multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted in patients aged 3-25 years who received care at the Allergology service of 14 hospitals in Catalonia from 2017 to 2020. Allergology diagnosis was established based on the patient's clinical assessment and the results of the skin prick test and specific immunoglobulin E assays. Subsequently, molecular diagnosis was conducted using ImmunoCAP TM ISAC ® 112 to recombinant and/or purified allergen components., Results: A total of 109 patients were included; 35 (32.1%) were pediatric patients and 74 (67.9%) were adolescents or young adults (mean age: 18 years), with 58.0% being females. A change of 51.0% was observed in SIT prescription following molecular etiological diagnosis by means of a multi-parameter microarray., Conclusions: Molecular diagnosis by means of multi-parameter tests increases the accuracy of etiological diagnosis and helps to define an accurate composition of SIT., Competing Interests: M.L-H report research funding from Thermofisher. None of the other authors have anything to disclose.

Pollen from common ragweed is an important allergen source worldwide and especially in western and southern Romania. More than 100 million patients suffer from symptoms of respiratory allergy (e.g., rhinitis, asthma) to ragweed pollen. Among the eleven characterized allergens, Amb a 6 is a non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP). nsLTPs are structurally stable proteins in pollen and food from different unrelated plants capable of inducing severe reactions. The goal of this study was to produce Amb a 6 as a recombinant and structurally folded protein (rAmb a 6) and to characterize its physicochemical and immunological features. rAmb a 6 was expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells as a secreted protein and characterized by mass spectrometry and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy regarding molecular mass and fold, respectively. The IgE-binding frequency towards the purified protein was evaluated using sera from 150 clinically well-characterized ragweed-allergic patients. The allergenic activities of rAmb a 6 and the nsLTP from the weed Parietaria judaica (Par j 2) were evaluated in basophil activation assays. rAmb a 6-specific IgE reactivity was associated with clinical features. Pure rAmb a 6 was obtained by insect cell expression. Its deduced molecular weight corresponded to that determined by mass spectrometry (i.e., 10,963 Da). rAmb a 6 formed oligomers as determined by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions. According to multiple sequence comparisons, Amb a 6 was a distinct nsLTP with less than 40% sequence identity to currently known plant nsLTP allergens, except for nsLTP from Helianthus (i.e., 52%). rAmb a 6 is an important ragweed allergen recognized by 30% of ragweed pollen allergic patients. For certain patients, rAmb a 6-specific IgE levels were higher than those specific for the major ragweed allergen Amb a 1 and analysis also showed a higher allergenic activity in the basophil activation test. rAmb a 6-positive patients suffered mainly from respiratory symptoms. The assumption that Amb a 6 is a source-specific ragweed allergen is supported by the finding that none of the patients showing rAmb a 6-induced basophil activation reacted with Par j 2 and only one rAmb a 6-sensitized patient had a history of plant food allergy. Immunization of rabbits with rAmb a 6 induced IgG antibodies which strongly inhibited IgE binding to rAmb a 6. Our results demonstrate that Amb a 6 is an important source-specific ragweed pollen allergen that should be considered for diagnosis and allergen-specific immunotherapy of ragweed pollen allergy.

Allergy to Polistes dominula (European paper wasp) venom is of particular relevance in Southern Europe, potentially becoming a threat in other regions in the near future, and can be effectively cured by venom immunotherapy (VIT). As allergen content in extracts may vary and have an impact on diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, the aim was to compare five therapeutic preparations for VIT of P. dominula venom allergy available in Spain. Products from five different suppliers were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS and compared with a reference venom sample. Three products with P. dominula venom and one product with a venom mixture of American Polistes species showed a comparable band pattern in SDS-PAGE as the reference sample and the bands of the major allergens phospholipase A1 and antigen 5 were assignable. The other product, which consists of a mixture of American Polistes species, exhibited the typical band pattern in one, but not in another sample from a second batch. All annotated P. dominula allergens were detected at comparable levels in LC-MS/MS analysis of products containing P. dominula venom. Due to a lack of genomic information on the American Polistes species, the remaining products were not analyzed by this method. The major Polistes allergens were present in comparable amounts in the majority, but not in all investigated samples of venom preparations for VIT of P. dominula venom allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food allergies are adverse health effects that arise from specific immune responses, occurring upon exposure to given foods, even if present in traces. Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies, mainly caused by egg white proteins, with ovalbumin being the most abundant. As allergens can also be present in foodstuff due to unintended contamination, there is a need for analytical tools that are able to rapidly detect allergens in food products at the point-of-use. Herein, we report an origami paper-based device for detecting ovalbumin in food samples, based on a competitive immunoassay with chemiluminescence detection. In this biosensor, magnetic microbeads have been employed for easy and efficient immobilization of ovalbumin on paper. Immobilized ovalbumin competes with the ovalbumin present in the sample for a limited amount of enzyme-labelled anti-ovalbumin antibody. By exploiting the origami approach, a multistep analytical procedure could be performed using reagents preloaded on paper layers, thus providing a ready-to-use immunosensing platform. The assay provided a limit of detection (LOD) of about 1 ng mL−1 for ovalbumin and, when tested on ovalbumin-spiked food matrices (chocolate chip cookies), demonstrated good assay specificity and accuracy, as compared with a commercial immunoassay kit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives: Pollen calendars have been proved clinically important in allergic disease management, as differences in airborne allergens exist not only between different countries but also between regions of the same country as well. This study aims to provide new data regarding the atmospheric pollen and fungi content of a Mediterranean region (Western Thrace/North-East Greece) and discuss seasonal trends, differences in pollen grains and fungi spores' circulation over the years, and correlations with climate parameters., Material and Methods: A 7-day continuously running volumetric trap was used to collect circulating pollen grains and fungi spores. Pollen taxa and fungi were characterized by standard protocols and counted as grains /m 3 and average total grains and spores. The primary allergenic pollen season was discovered, and their 10-day averages were measured over time. Correlations with temperature, rain, and humidity were assessed by single linear regression analysis., Results: Pollen grains from nine pollen families were identified, including five arboreal, two nonarboreal taxa, and spores from two fungi species. The three most prevalent taxa were Oleaceae, Poaceae, Pinaceae , and Cladosporium in the fungi. Peak pollen concentrations were detected during April and May, with daily averages exceeding 170 grains/m 3 . Poaceae presented the longest pollen season of 342 days and Oleaceae the shortest, extending to only 110 days, during the 3years. Cladosporium was the fungus with the highest spore concentration (180,129.9 spores) compared with Alternaria (28,026.1 spores). Correlations with meteorological parameters showed variable associations among different taxa, with rainfall and relative humidity being the most significant determinants., Conclusion: In this study, the pollenic and fungal spectrum of a Mediterranean region and information that can be proved clinically significant for the appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach of allergic patients was presented.

The observed global climate change is an indisputable cause of the increased frequency of extreme weather events and related natural disasters. This phenomenon is observed all over the world including Poland. Moreover, Polish citizens as tourists are also exposed to climate phenomena that do not occur in our climate zone. Extreme weather events and related disasters can have a significant impact on people with allergic diseases, including asthma. These effects may be associated with the exposure to air pollution, allergens, and specific microclimate conditions. Under the auspices of the Polish Society of Allergology, experts in the field of environmental allergy prepared a statement on climate changes, natural disasters and allergy and asthma to reduce the risk of adverse health events provoked by climate and weather factors. The guidelines contain the description of the factors related to climate changes and natural disasters affecting the course of allergic diseases, the specific microclimate conditions and the recommendations of the Polish Society of Allergology for vulnerable population, patients suffering from asthma and allergy diseases, allergologists and authorities in the event of climate and weather hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergen component sensitisation testing is becoming increasingly important in the diagnosis of peanut allergy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between sensitisation and symptoms of allergic disease in children by testing a large panel of inhalants, food allergens, and allergen components., Methods: For 287 children visiting our laboratory for allergy testing, symptoms of allergic disease were recorded by standardised validated questionnaires. Specific IgE to 11 whole allergens was assessed by ImmunoCAP, and to 112 allergen components by ISAC ImmunoCAP assay. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to distinguish clinical phenotypes., Results: Inhalant and food allergen sensitisation was common, irrespective of the children's allergic symptom type. Less than 10% of the variance in symptom scores was explained by variations in the number of allergens (components) that the child was sensitised to. In LCA, 135 children (50.2%) had mild allergy, with few symptoms and sensitisation to no or few allergens, 74 children (27.5%) had more symptoms and sensitisation to inhalant allergens (respiratory allergy) and 60 children (22.3%) showed polysensitisation to a median of six allergens and had more severe symptoms of different organ systems. Adding allergen component test results to LCA failed to result in identifiable classes of allergic disease in children., Conclusions: In this group of children with allergic symptoms, referred for allergy testing by their physician, broad screening for allergen component sensitisation did not contribute to distinguishing phenotypes of allergic disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest with respect to research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Introduction and Objectives: It was urgent to explain the role of egg yolk allergen sensitization to the egg allergic population and we would evaluate the diagnostic value of allergen components in whole eggs, including egg white and egg yolk., Materials and Methods: Firstly, we collected 99 positive and 21 negative sera against egg allergy. Then we used modified enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to survey specific IgE (sIgE) to all-proven and single component in eggs, Ovomucoid (Gal d 1), Ovalbumin (Gal d 2), Ovotransferrin (Gal d 3), Lysozyme C (Gal d 4), Serum Albumin (Gal d 5), and YGP42(Gal d 6) in allergic and non-allergic populations. Last but not least, we studied the sIgE reactivities to egg allergen components by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis., Results: Among egg-allergic individuals, nearly 10% were sensitized to five of six egg allergen components, and the cross-reaction frequency between two egg yolk allergens with Gal d 1 was about 30% in the groups diagnosed with egg allergy or non-allergy. The best component-combination diagnosis in egg allergy of Gal d 1+ Gal d 6 demonstrated the largest area under curve (AUC) of 0.994., Conclusions: Our results suggested that there were individual differences in allergenicity of different egg allergen components, especially in the samples negative to egg allergy diagnosed but sensitive to egg yolk components. It was indicated that component resolved diagnosis of egg yolk improved the value for egg allergy management indispensably.

To protect individuals who already have or are at risk of developing immune‐mediated adverse reactions to food, novel foods and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) undergo an allergenicity risk assessment. There are shortcomings in this process that could be improved through use of well‐defined clinically relevant allergen molecules with different allergenic potential. The objective of this project was to develop novel strategies for predicting allergenicity of innovative/novel proteins that address this issue. We undertook a systematic review of allergen molecules in foods listed on Annex II of the Food Information for Consumers Regulation together with additional foods known to cause IgE‐mediated food allergies in at least one European region with a prevalence of 0.5%. Around 750 in‐scope papers were quality assessed to allow clinical relevance of allergen molecules to be ranked. The best characterised clinically relevant allergens were identified in peanut, hazelnut, cow's milk, fish and crustacean shellfish with data lacking for allergens from foods such as pecan, Macadamia, lupin and melon. Furthermore, an assessment of in silico tools allergenicity prediction found that, whilst many were able to correctly predict allergenicity, none were able to provide an output that could be linked to the clinical relevance. Building on these outcomes an approach for allergenicity risk assessment has been developed that brings together elements of exposure assessment, combining in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods. Tools for assessment of risks of cross‐reactive allergies are more mature and only require refinement to improve the outputs to inform the allergenicity risk assessment process. However, as mechanisms underlying development of food allergy are not fully elucidated, and remain a matter of ongoing research, prediction of de novo sensitisation is uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food antigens are clearly implicated in the induction and persistence of eosinophilic oesophagitis. Dietary elimination to identify triggers is tedious and expensive. Alternatives that can mitigate cost and improve patient quality of life during this process are needed., Aims: To test the hypothesis that antibodies against foods that trigger eosinophilic oesophagitis are secreted into the oesophageal lumen where they can be collected by oesophageal brushings., Methods: We evaluated food-specific immune responses within brushings in 68 patients undergoing endoscopy (12 controls, 13 resolved eosinophilic oesophagitis and 43 active eosinophilic oesophagitis). Seventeen participants identified their trigger foods via food elimination diets. Immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G4 antibodies against the four most common eosinophilic oesophagitis food triggers were measured using the ImmunoCAP assay in the oesophageal brushings. Food-specific antibody values were compared between active eosinophilic oesophagitis, resolved eosinophilic oesophagitis and controls., Results: Patients with active eosinophilic oesophagitis (>15 eosinophils/hpf) demonstrated increased immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G4 levels to common eosinophilic oesophagitis triggers compared to controls (327 ± 380 vs 150 ± 130 for immunoglobulin A, and 1534 ± 3346 vs 178 ± 123 for immunoglobulin G4, P < 0.003). Specific trigger foods were associated with elevated immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G4 responses compared to foods that did not trigger oesophageal eosinophilia (733 ± 469 vs 142 ± 64, P < 0.001 immunoglobulin A and 2620 ± 3228 vs 526 ± 1050, P < 0.001 immunoglobulin G4)., Conclusions: Food-specific antibodies are easily collected along the oesophageal lumen of eosinophilic oesophagitis patients. Further studies are needed to validate our preliminary findings to determine whether these antibodies can be used to guide elimination diet therapy., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) in childhood are mainly caused by betalactam or non-betalactam antibiotics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Laboratory tests for identifying children who are allergic to drugs have low diagnostic accuracy and predictive value. The gold standard to diagnose DHR is represented by the drug provocation test (DPT), that aims of ascertaining the causative role of an allergen and evaluating the tolerance to the suspected drug. Different protocols through the administration of divided increasing doses have been postulated according to the type of drug and the onset of the reaction (immediate or non immediate reactions). DPT protocols differ in doses and time interval between doses. In this position paper, the Italian Pediatric Society for Allergy and Immunology provides a practical guide for provocation test to antibiotics and NSAIDs in children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence has shown that T cell exhaustion is implicated in Allergen-specific Immunotherapy (AIT). However, how T cell exhaustion plays a role in AIT is far from clear. Our study aimed to investigate T cell exhaustion associated with allergen exposure during AIT in mice. Ovalbumin (OVA) - sensitized C57BL/6J asthma mouse and AIT mouse models were constructed. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRTPCR) and flow cytometry were used to monitor the occurrence of local and systemic CD4 + T cells and Th2 + T cells exhaustion in OVA-sensitized mice. The inhibitory surface marker programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) on CD4 + T cells and Th2 + T cells was significantly upregulated in AIT mice compared with asthmatic and control mice. The level of PD-1 on the surface of CD4 + T cells of asthma mice was significantly higher than that of control mice. The inhibitory surface marker cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) on CD4 + T cells and Th2 + T cells showed no significant difference between the AIT, asthma and control mice. Collectively, our study indicated that the expression of PD-1 on CD4 + T cells and Th2 + T cells was increased in AIT. Allergen exposure promotes the expression of PD-1 on the surface of CD4 + T cells. T cell exhaustion plays an important role in AIT., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Urban trees provide many benefits to citizens but also have associated disservices such as pollen allergenicity. Pollen allergies affect 40% of the European population, a problem that will be exacerbated with climate change by lengthening the pollen season. The allergenic characteristics of the urban trees and urban parks of the city of Valencia (Spain) have been studied. The Value of Potential Allergenicity (VPA) was calculated for all species. The most abundant allergenic trees with a very high VPA were the cypresses, followed by Platanus x hispanica and species of genera Morus, Acer and Fraxinus, with a high VPA. On the contrary, Citrus x aurantium, Melia azedarach, Washingtonia spp., Brachychiton spp. and Jacaranda mimosifolia were among the most abundant low allergenic trees. VPA was mapped for the city and a hot spot analysis was applied to identify areas of clustering of high and low VPA values. This geostatistical analysis provides a comprehensive representation of the VPA patterns which is very useful for urban green infrastructure planning. The Index of Urban Green Zone Allergenicity (I UGZA ) was calculated for the main parks of the city. The subtropical and tropical flora component included many entomophilous species and the lowest share of high and very high allergenic trees in comparison with the Mediterranean and Temperate components. Overall, a diversification of tree species avoiding clusters of high VPA trees, and the prioritization of species with low VPA are good strategies to minimize allergy-related impacts of urban trees on human health., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The growing world population, changing dietary habits, and increasing pressure on agricultural resources are drivers for the development of novel foods (including new protein sources as well as existing protein sources that are produced or used in an alternative way or in a different concentration). These changes, coupled with consumer inclination to adopt new dietary trends, may heighten the intake of unfamiliar proteins, or escalate consumption of specific ones, potentially amplifying the prevalence of known and undiscovered food allergies. Assessing the allergenicity of novel or modified protein-based foods encounters several challenges, including uncertainty surrounding acceptable risks and assessment criteria for determining safety. Moreover, the available methodological tools for gathering supportive data exhibit significant gaps. This paper synthesises these challenges, addressing the varied interpretations of "safe" across jurisdictions and societal attitudes towards allergenic risk. It proposes a comprehensive two-part framework for allergenicity assessment: the first part emphasises systematic consideration of knowledge and data requirements, while the second part proposes the application of a generic assessment approach, integrating a Threshold of Allergological Concern. This combined framework highlights areas that require attention to bridge knowledge and data gaps, and it delineates research priorities for its development and implementation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Rene Crevel reports financial support and travel were provided by International Life Sciences Institute Europe (ILSI Europe). Geert Houben reports financial support was provided by ILSI Europe. Rene Crevel reports a relationship with AllPreT Horizon Europe Marie Curie Doctoral Training Network Project that includes: board membership and travel reimbursement. Geert Houben reports a relationship with Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research that includes: employment. Ross Yarham reports a relationship with InBio that includes: employment. Katrine Lindholm Bogh reports a relationship with Technical University of Denmark National Food Institute that includes: employment. Neil Buck reports a relationship with General Mills Inc that includes: employment. Melina Galano reports a relationship with dsm-firmenich that includes: employment. Kitty Verhoeckx reports a relationship with University Medical Center Utrecht that includes: employment. I have received fees through René Crevel Consulting Ltd for risk assessment of the proposed use of various proteins by Meatable B.V. , Upfield B.V. and Mozza Inc. - R.C. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 International Life Sciences Institute Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of this estudy was to investigate the influence of allergen exposure levels and other risk factors for allergic sensitization, asthma, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in workers exposed to laboratory animals., Methods: This was a cross-sectional study performed at two universities, 123 workplaces with 737 subjects. Dust samples were collected from laboratories and animal facilities housing rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, or hamsters and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure allergen concentrations. We also sampled workplaces without animals. Asthma was defined by both symptoms and BHR to mannitol. The concentrations of allergens were tested for association with a skin prick test, respiratory symptoms, spirometry data, and BHR. This multivariate analysis was performed by using Poisson regression to estimate the relative risk (RR) for the exposed group., Results: Our sample comprised students and workers, with 336 subjects in the nonexposed group and 401 subjects in the exposed group. Sixty-nine subjects (17%) had positive results in the skin prick test for animal allergens in the exposed group; in the nonexposed group, 10 subjects had positive results (3%) (p<0.001). Exposure to laboratory animals over 2.8 years was associated with atopic sensitization (RR=1.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-3.15; p=0.02). Allergen concentration was not associated with sensitization, asthma, or BHR., Conclusion: Exposure to laboratory animals was associated with atopic sensitization. However, we did not find a cutoff allergen concentration that increased the risk for sensitization. Duration of exposure seems to be more relevant to sensitization than concentration of allergens in dust.

Within the framework of the Dust Observations for Models (DO4Models) project, the performance of three commonly used dust emissions schemes is investigated in this paper using a box model environment. We constrain the model with field data (surface and dust particle properties as well as meteorological parameters) obtained from a dry lake bed with a crusted surface in Botswana during a three month period in 2011. Our box model results suggest that all schemes fail to reproduce the observed horizontal dust flux. They overestimate the magnitude of the flux by several orders of magnitude. The discrepancy is much smaller for the vertical dust emission flux, albeit still overestimated by up to an order of magnitude. The key parameter for this mismatch is the surface crusting which limits the availability of erosive material even at higher wind speeds. In contrast, direct dust entrainment was inferred to be important for several dust events, which explains the smaller gap between modelled and measured vertical dust fluxes. We conclude that both features, crusted surfaces and direct entrainment, need to be incorporated in dust emission schemes in order to represent the entire spectra of source processes. We also conclude that soil moisture exerts a key control on the shear velocity and hence the emission threshold of dust in the model. In the field, the state of the crust is the controlling mechanism for dust emission. Although the crust is related to the soil moisture content to some extent, we are not able to deduce a robust correlation between state of crust and soil moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]