Immunobiology of fungal allergens.

In recent years, considerable attention has been paid in obtaining purified relevant allergens from fungi associated with allergy. Using molecular biology techniques, a number of mold allergens have been obtained by cloning the genes encoding the allergens. Currently, about 70 fungal allergens have been approved by the International Allergen Nomenclature Committee. In this review, we have presented major allergens from Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, and Alternaria and discussed their immunochemical characteristics and their role in the diagnosis of allergy and possible usefulness in understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. The structure-function properties and the potential role of these recombinant allergens in the immunomodulatory therapy also are presented. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel