Facing Hymenoptera Venom Allergy: From Natural to Recombinant Allergens

Author(s)

Perez-Riverol, Amilcar ^[1] ; Justo-Jacomini, Debora Lais ^[1] ; Zollner, Ricardo de Lima ^[2] ; Brochetto-Braga, Marcia Regina ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, LBMA IB RC, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, FCM, Dept Clin Med, LIAE, BR-13083887 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista, CEVAP, BR-18610307 Botucatu, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: TOXINS; v. 7, n. 7, p. 2551-2570, JUL 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 13

Abstract

Along with food and drug allergic reactions, a Hymenoptera insect Sting (Apoidea, Vespidae, Formicidae) is one of the most common causes of anaphylaxis worldwide. Diagnoses of Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA) and specific immunotherapy (SIT) have been based on the use of crude venom extracts. However, the incidence of cross-reactivity and low levels of sensibility during diagnosis, as well as the occurrence of nonspecific sensitization and undesired side effects during SIT, encourage the search for novel allergenic materials. Recombinant allergens are an interesting approach to improve allergy diagnosis and SIT because they circumvent major problems associated with the use of crude venom. Production of recombinant allergens depends on the profound molecular characterization of the natural counterpart by combining some omics approaches with high-throughput screening techniques and the selection of an appropriate system for heterologous expression. To date, several clinically relevant allergens and novel venom toxins have been identified, cloned and characterized, enabling a better understanding of the whole allergenic and envenoming processes. Here, we review recent findings on identification, molecular characterization and recombinant expression of Hymenoptera venom allergens and on the evaluation of these heterologous proteins as valuable tools for tackling remaining pitfalls on HVA diagnosis and immunotherapy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/13936-7 - Allergens from venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae): recombinant expression in yeast for improved diagnosis and specific immunotherapy to Hymenoptera venom allergy
• Grantee: Márcia Regina Brochetto Braga
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants