Olive (Olea europea) pollen allergens--I. Immunochemical characterization by immunoblotting, CRIE and immunodetection by a monoclonal antibody.

The pattern of reactivity of the Olea europea crude extract antigens was analysed after electroblotting to nitrocellulose from SDS-PAGE. The antigens contained in the 17, 19 and 42 K bands were most reactive with specific IgE from individual sera. Following immunization with a crude extract, one monoclonal antibody (OL-1) was raised against components which exhibited IgE binding capacity in electroblotting and crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CRIE). Monoclonal antibody OL-1 reacted with the 17 and 19 K antigens and with three arcs of crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE), one of which is considered to contain a major allergen by CRIE.