FUNGAL ALLERGENS

Airborne fungal spores occur widely and often in far greater concentra tions than pollen grains. Immunoglobulin E-specific antigens (allergen s) on airborne fungal spores induce type I hypersensitivity (allergic) respiratory reactions in sensitized atopic subjects, causing rhinitis and/or asthma. The prevalence of respiratory allergy to fungi is impr ecisely known but is estimated at 20 to 30% of atopic (allergy-predisp osed) individuals or up to 6% of the general population. Diagnosis and immunotherapy of allergy to fungi require well-characterized or stand ardized extracts that contain the relevant allergen(s) of the appropri ate fungus. Production of standardized extracts is difficult since fun gal extracts are complex mixtures and a variety of fungi are allergeni c. Thus, the currently available extracts are largely nonstandardized even uncharacterized, crude extracts. Recent significant progress in i solating and characterizing relevant fungal allergens is summarized in the present review. Particularly, some allergens from the genera Alte rnaria, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium are now thoroughly characterized and allergens from several other genera, including some basidiomycete s, have also been purified The availability of these extracts will fac ilitate definitive studies of fungal allergy prevalence and immunother apy efficacy as well as enhance both the diagnosis and therapy of fung al allergy.