The recombinant allergens can be used reliably to identify Can f 1 and Can f 2-sensitized individuals. However, the two allergens are insufficient as reagents for diagnosing dog allergy.

One prerequisite for developing peptide-based allergen immunotherapy is knowing the T cell epitopes of an allergen. In this study, human T cell reactivity against the major dog allergen Can f 1 was investigated to determine peptides suitable for immunotherapy. Seven T cell epitope regions (A–G) were found in Can f 1 with specific T cell lines and clones. The localization of the epitope regions shows similarities with those of the epitopes found in Bos d 2 and Rat n 1. On average, individuals recognized three epitopes in Can f 1. Our results suggest that seven 16-mer peptides (p15–30, p33–48, p49–64, p73–88, p107–122, p123–138, and p141–156), each from one of the epitope regions, show widespread T cell reactivity in the population studied, and they bind efficiently to seven HLA-DRB1 molecules (DRB1*0101, DRB1*0301, DRB1*0401, DRB1*0701, DRB1*1101, DRB1*1301, and DRB1*1501) predominant in Caucasian populations. Therefore, these peptides are potential candidates for immunotherapy of dog allergy.

The 18mer peptide p143-160 from the immunodominant region of Equ c 1 is a potential candidate for the peptide-based immunotherapy of horse-sensitized subjects.

No abstract

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) were repeatedly exposed to 0, 60, 120 and 240 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation three times in 1 week (short‐term exposure) or 12 times in 4 weeks (long‐term exposure). The effect of UVB on the functioning of the carp immune system was studied on day 2 after the final irradiation. After short‐term UVB exposure, the whole‐blood respiratory burst and cytotoxic activity were markedly enhanced, with parallel responses in both the number of circulating granulocytes and in the plasma cortisol concentration of the fish. These changes were not detectable after long‐term exposure. The respiratory burst by head kidney granulocytes was suppressed dose dependently after both exposures, but cytotoxic activity was not affected. Exposure to UVB also modulated lymphocyte functions: nonstimulated and PHA‐stimulated proliferation of head kidney lymphocytes in vitro was enhanced by both short‐term and long‐term exposure. LPS‐stimulated proliferation was not affected by exposure nor was the number of immunoglobulin‐secreting cells in the head kidney. In long‐term exposure, the highest dose reduced the level of plasma IgM. This study indicates that UVB irradiation induces immunomodulation in the blood and head kidney of the carp and that the effects of short‐ and long‐term exposure differ from each other. The results emphasize the potentially harmful impact of increased solar UVB radiation on fish immune functions.