Review

The Spectrum of Fungal Allergy
Birgit Simon-Nobbe, Ursula Denk, Verena Pöll, Raphaela Rid, Michael Breitenbach

Department of Cell Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2008;145:58-86 (DOI: 10.1159/000107578)

  Key Words

• Allergy
• Cross-reactivity
• Epitope
• Fungi
• IgE
• Mold
• Recombinant allergen

  Abstract

Fungi can be found throughout the world. They may live as saprophytes, parasites or symbionts of animals and plants in indoor as well as outdoor environment. For decades, fungi belonging to the ascomycota as well as to the basidiomycota have been known to cause a broad panel of human disorders. In contrast to pollen, fungal spores and/or mycelial cells may not only cause type I allergy, the most prevalent disease caused by molds, but also a large number of other illnesses, including allergic bronchopulmonary mycoses, allergic sinusitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and atopic dermatitis; and, again in contrast to pollen-derived allergies, fungal allergies are frequently linked with allergic asthma. Sensitization to molds has been reported in up to 80% of asthmatic patients. Although research on fungal allergies dates back to the 19th century, major improvements in the diagnosis and therapy of mold allergy have been hampered by the fact that fungal extracts are highly variable in their protein composition due to strain variabilities, batch-to-batch variations, and by the fact that extracts may be prepared from spores and/or mycelial cells. Nonetheless, about 150 individual fungal allergens from approximately 80 mold genera have been identified in the last 20 years. First clinical studies with recombinant mold allergens have demonstrated their potency in clinical diagnosis. This review aims to give an overview of the biology of molds and diseases caused by molds in humans, as well as a detailed summary of the latest results on recombinant fungal allergens.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Birgit Simon-Nobbe
Department of Cell Biology, Division Genetics
University of Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34
AT–5020 Salzburg (Austria)
Tel. +43 662 8044 5791, Fax +43 662 8044 144, E-Mail birgit.simon@sbg.ac.at

  Article Information

ABPA = Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; ABPM = allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis; AD = atopic dermatitis; GST = glutathione-S-transferase; HSP = heat shock protein; MnSOD = manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase; RAST = radioallergosorbent test; SPT = skin prick test.

Published online: August 20, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 29
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 268