A novel grass pollen allergen mimotope identified by phage display peptidelibrary inhibits allergen-human IgE antibody interaction

The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular basis of human IgE-a llergen interaction by screening a phage-displayed peptide library with an allergen-specific human IgE-mimicking monoclonal antibody (mAb). A mAb that reacted with major grass pollen allergens was successfully identified and shown to inhibit human IgE-allergen interaction. Biopanning of a phage-disp layed random peptide library with this mAb yielded a 12 amino acid long mim otope. A synthetic peptide based on this 12-mer mimotope inhibited mAb and human IgE binding to grass pollen extracts. Our results indicate that such synthetic peptide mimotopes of allergens have potential as novel therapeuti c agents. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.. on behalf of the Fed eration of European Biochemical Societies.