Novel immunotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of allergic diseases

Advances in the knowledge of the cellular and molecular basis of immunity h ave led to an enhanced understanding of the immunologic features that chara cterize an allergic response. Molecular cloning of allergens has advanced t he knowledge of their primary structures and has enabled these allergens to be produced in virtually unlimited quantities for the potential diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. Furthermore, with the availability of r ecombinant allergens, new forms of allergen immunotherapy may use these rec ombinant allergens or even plasmid DNAs that encode allergens. Nonetheless, all new technologies should be explored to optimize the diagnosis and trea tment of allergic diseases.