Ragweed pollen

What is the specific term for the substance capable of triggering an inappropriate or harmful immune response to a harmless substance such as ragweed pollen ... 

The first assay to be employed for protein concentration is the Bradford assay, a commercially available colorimetric assay used to quantitate the total extracted protein. Amb a 1 is approximately 1% of the total protein extracted from ragweed pollen hence the Bradford assay does not reflect Amb a 1 concentration. However, at this step of the production process, the protein concentration is used to calculate final yields and not to make time-dependent or expensive decisions. Hence the nonspecific Bradford assay is ideal. A simpler direct absorbance method is not suitable due to the presence of a nonprotein chromophore in the ragweed extract. 

Creticos PS, Adkinson NF Jr, Kagey-Sobotka A, Proud D, Meier HL, Naclerio RM, et al Nasal challenge with ragweed pollen in hay fever patients. Effect of immunotherapy. 

King TP, Kochoumian L and Lichtenstein LM (1977) Preparation and immunochemical properties of methoxypolyethylene glycol-coupled and N-car-boxymethylated derivatives of ragweed pollen allergen, antigen E. Arch Biochem Biophysl78, 442-450. 

Robertson DG, Ketigan AT, Hargreave FE, Chalmers R, et al. 1974. Late asthmatic responses induced by ragweed pollen allergen. J All Clin Immunol. 54 244-254. 

Table 4. Controlled sublingual studies ragweed pollen... 

Creticos P, Adkinson N, Kagey-Sobotka A Nasal challenge with ragweed pollen in hayfever patients Effect of immunotherapy. J Clin Invest 1985 76 2247-2253. 

A, Lycopodium spores and ragweed pollen on wheat stems (Aylor Ferrandino, 1985) , fly ash particles on steel fibres (Ellenbecker et al., 1980) O, polystyrene particles on pine needles (Little, 1979). 

Figure 10 Sample dosage form design for enteric-coated short ragweed pollen extract. (Source Ref. 68.)...

In addition, the use of gates or windows in the Coulter counter model ZM enables cell sizes to be accurately determined after the machine has been calibrated with pollen grains of known size. Thus ragweed pollen has a mean volume of 3800 ju,m3. When coupled to a Channelyzer a histogram of the cell size distribution is automatically recorded (Fig. 7.3). 

Bmce CA, Norman PS, Rosenthal RR, Lichtenstein LM The role of ragweed pollen in autumnal asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1977 59 449 59. 

Fig. 6 Viscosity profile as a function of shear stress for suspensions of different ragweed pollen grains in mineral oil. (From Ref l)...

Nayak A, Casale T, Miller SD, Condemi J, McAlary M, Fowler-Taylor A, Della Cioppa G, Gupta N. Tolerability of retreatment with omalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, during a second ragweed pollen season in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Allergy Asthma Proc 2003 24(5) 323-9. 

Marsh DG, Hsu SH, Roebber M, et al HLA-Dw2 A genetic marker for human immune response to short ragweed pollen allergen Ra5.1. Response resulting primarily from natural antigenic exposure. J Exp Med 1982 155 1439-1451. (Ill)... 

Blumenthal M, Marcus BD, Awdeh Z, et al HLA-DR2, [HLA-B7, SC31, DR2], and [HLA-B8, SCOl, DR3] distinguish subjects with asthma from those with rhinitis only ragweed pollen allergy. J Immunol 1992 148 411-416. (Ill)... 

Instead, type 2 T-helper (Th2) cells, found in atopic individuals, play an important role in the condition. Studies have demonstrated flaring of AD on exposure to various aeroallergens such as horse dander, grass, and ragweed pollen. Although variation in performance and evaluation of these tests is difficult to avoid, patch tests with allergens can result in eczematous reactions. ... 

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