Molecular and Immunological Characterization of Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) Pollen after Exposure of the Plants to Elevated Ozone over a Whole Growing Season

Abstract

Climate change and air pollution, including ozone is known to affect plants and might also influence the ragweed pollen, known to carry strong allergens. We compared the transcriptome of ragweed pollen produced under ambient and elevated ozone by 454-sequencing. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out for the major ragweed allergen Amb a 1. Pollen surface was examined by scanning electron microscopy and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and phenolics were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Elevated ozone had no influence on the pollen size, shape, surface structure or amount of phenolics. ATR-FTIR indicated increased pectin-like material in the exine. Transcriptomic analyses showed changes in expressed-sequence tags (ESTs), including allergens. However, ELISA indicated no significantly increased amounts of Amb a 1 under elevated ozone concentrations. The data highlight a direct influence of ozone on the exine components and transcript level of allergens. As the total protein amount of Amb a 1 was not altered, a direct correlation to an increased risk to human health could not be derived. Additional, the 454-sequencing contributes to the identification of stress-related transcripts in mature pollen that could be grouped into distinct gene ontology terms.

The impact of pollen load on quality of life: a questionnaire-based study in Lithuania

“…Studies have demonstrated that pollen concentration is increasing, especially in urban regions (Grewling et al 2012;Ziello et al 2012). Human respiratory systems in urban territories are affected not only by pollen, but also by the components of stationary and mobile air pollution of anthropogenic origin (Puc 2012b;Kanter et al 2013). To maintain quality of life during everyday activities and to ensure timely prevention and diagnosis respiratory disease, it is important to be aware of the spread of pollen.…”

Effects of NO<sub>2</sub> on Inflorescence Length, Pollen/Seed Amount and Phenolic Metabolites of Common Ragweed (<i>Ambrosia artemisiifolia</i> L.)

“…Changes in individual phenolic metabolites have also been reported in A. artemisiifolia pollen upon CO 2 and/or drought stress [43], whereas no changes were observed upon ozone fumigation [14]. The pollen of several other plants species that were sampled from polluted and less-polluted areas showed an increased amount of individual flavonoids [44] [45].…”

“…It has been shown that elevated CO 2 concentrations result in an increase of A. artemisiifolia growth and pollen production [9] [10] [11] [12]. In addition to climate change parameters, air pollution might also influence the allergenicity of A. artemisiifolia pollen [13] [14] [15] [16]. However, the fumigation of A. artemisiifolia plants with 80 ppb O 3 did not alter the pollen amount [12].…”

Ragweed Pollen Allergy: Burden, Characteristics, and Management of an Imported Allergen Source in Europe

“…Elevated ragweed plant exposure to ozone can induce a higher level of expression for Amb a CPI and for the major allergen Amb a 1, as was revealed by transcriptomic assays [80]. …”