Trees within the order Fagales possess particularly potent allergens, e.g. the prototypical Bet v 1, the major white birch (Betula 馃挸 verrucosa - now called B. pendula) pollen antigen. Bet v 1 is the main cause of type I allergies observed 馃挸 in early spring. Type I, or immunoglobulin E-mediated (IgE-mediated) allergies affect 1 in 5 people in Europe and North America. 馃挸 Commonly observed symptoms are hay fever, dermatitis, asthma and, in severe cases, anaphylactic shock. First contact with these allergens results 馃挸 in sensitisation; subsequent contact produces a cross-linking reaction of IgE on mast cells and concomitant release of histamine. The inevitable 馃挸 symptoms of an allergic reaction ensue.
Categorization [ edit ]
A nomenclature system has been established for antigens (allergens) that cause IgE-mediated 馃挸 atopic allergies in humans.[2] This nomenclature system is defined by a designation that is composed of the first three letters 馃挸 of the genus; a space; the first letter of the species name; a space and an Arabic number. In the 馃挸 event that two species names have identical designations, they are discriminated from one another by adding one or more letters 馃挸 (as necessary) to each species designation.
The allergens in this family include allergens with the following designations: Bet v 1, Dau 馃挸 c 1, and Pru a 1. Other proteins belonging to this family include the major pollen allergens:
Structure [ edit ]
