These results suggest that Fel d 1 is another example of a domestic allergen which is associated with enzyme activity. It remains to be established whether the activity resides in Fel d 1 itself or in an unresolved, and possibly related, protein.

This study shows the existence of a highly promiscuous T-cell epitope in Bet v 1. The presence of additional T-cell epitopes in Bet v 1 may, however, hamper the clinical applicability of the epitope. Likewise, the diversity in TCR usage by T cells recognizing the epitope does not support the development of TCR-directed immunotherapy for birch pollen allergy.

Using crude preparations of recombinant fusion proteins of Bet v 1 with MBP, multiple T cell epitopes were identified in Bet v 1. As T cell activation is preserved in this system, the generation of recombinant allergens with TH1-inducing proteins as fusion partners might be considered as a T-cell targeted approach for specific immunotherapy.