Tapping allergen repertoires by advanced cloning technologies

Reto Crameri*, Rimantas Kodzius, Zoltan Konthur, Hans Lehrach, Kurt Blaser, Gerald Walter

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Complex allergenic sources such as moulds, foods and mites contain complex panels of IgE-binding molecules which need to be cloned, produced and characterized in order to mimic the entire allergenicity of whole extracts reconstituted by mixing single standardized recombinant allergens. Methods: Phage surface display of cDNA libraries selectively enriched for allergen-expressing clones using IgE from allergic patients allows rapid isolation of large panels of allergens. For the characterization of all different clones present in enriched cDNA libraries in a fast and cost-effective way, high-throughput screening technology is required. Results: The combination of selective enrichment of cDNA libraries based on biopanning against serum IgE from sensitized patients and automated robot technology for picking and high-density gridding of clones onto filter membranes, followed by hybridization, enables fast identification of all the different clones present in an enriched library. The consequent application of selective enrichment and robotic-based screening allows, within weeks, cloning and characterization of the whole allergenic repertoire of any organisms. Conclusions: Robotic-based high-throughput screening of clones selected for IgE-binding capacity from phage surface-displayed cDNA libraries of Aspergillus fumigatus, Cladosporium herbarum, Coprinus comatus, Malassezia furfur, peanut and human lung tissue allowed rapid characterization of 81, 28, 37, 27, 8 and 151 different sequences, respectively. All these cDNAs bear a high probability to encode allergens derived from the respective allergenic source.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)43-47
Number of pages5
JournalInternational Archives of Allergy and Immunology
Volume124
Issue number1-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Allergens
  • Cloning
  • DNA array
  • Hybridization
  • Phage surface display
  • Robotics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Tapping allergen repertoires by advanced cloning technologies'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this