N-TERMINUS OF A MAJOR ALLERGEN, ALT-A-I, OF ALTERNARIA-ALTERNATA DEFINED TO BE AN EPITOPE

A 20mer peptide representing the N-terminus of a major allergen, Alt a I, of Alternaria alternata was in alternata was synthesized and exami ned for its antibody binding and antibody induction activities.Alt a I peptide-BSA conjugate reacted with both human IgE and rabbit anti-Air a I IgG in ELISA, albeit the binding of the peptide to IgE was relati vely weak. Control conjugate showed no antibody binding. These results indicated that the N-terminus of Alt a I is an antibodybinding site. Moreover, peptide-KLH conjugate and nonconjugated peptide induced both IgG and IgE antibodies in Balb/c mice that recognized both native,4lt a I allergen and peptide-BSA conjugate. Since the free peptide was ab le to induce antibodies in vivo, the peptide may also possess a T cell epitope.