GROUP-5 DETERMINATION IN POOIDEAE GRASS-POLLEN EXTRACTS BY MONOCLONALANTIBODY-BASED ELISA - CORRELATION WITH BIOLOGIC ACTIVITY

A solid-phase, monoclonal antibody-based ELISA was set up to quantitat e group 5 allergens in pollen extracts of wild and cultivated Pooideae grasses. The method was able to evaluate group 5 concentration in mas s units with a sensitivity in the ng/ml range and a practical working range of 1-100 ng/ml. The group 5 ELISA was compared with rocket immun oelectrophoresis for determination of allergen levels in several Phleu m pratense extracts, and a very good quantitative correlation was foun d (r=0.98; P<0.0001). A highly significant correlation (r>0.8) was als o obtained in comparing allergenic potency determined by RAST inhibiti on to group 5 content in several wild and cultivated grass species. Th e results proved the usefulness of the method in the standardization o f Pooideae pollen extracts employed in diagnosis and treatment.