Development of a methodology aiming to increase the sensitivity for specific IgE analysis

• Grant number: 12/51576-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: November 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Condino Neto
• Grantee: Leandro Hideki Ynoue
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Allergic diseases are a major health problem worldwide. They manifest due to exposure of susceptible people to various environmental allergens, food, drugs, and chemicals. Usually, diagnosiing these diseases include: medical history, skin prick testing, and the levels of specific IgE from patient sera. However, even using these methods, there are cases that may keep unclear. Moreover, both the skin prick test and the serological analysis have their limitations, and relying only on the patient's medical history may be risky. Objective: Develop a methodology to increase the sensitivity for detection of specific IgE. Methodology: Allergic patients will be selected based on skin prick test and clinical history. Blood samples for serum obtention will be spirted in two aliquots for analysis of specific IgE The first will be analyzed by ImmunoCAP system as a standard procedure. The second is subjected to affinity chromatography for purification of IgE and then analyzed by ImmunoCAP system. Both serum samples, the purified and crude are also analyzed by immunoblot to assess the immunoreactivity of the bands with standardized allergen extracts. Expected results: It is expected that the purification of IgE increase the sensitivity of the currenlty used tests, facilitating the diagnosis of allergic diseases and making decisions about patients treatment. (AU)