Recombinant hypoallergens for immunotherapy of Parietaria judaica pollen allergy

Recombinant allergens are a promising alternative to crude allergen extracts for diagnosis and therapy of allergic diseases. Genetically modified allergen derivatives with reduced allergenic activity but retaining their immunogenicity have also been produced to increase safety and specificity of allergen-specific immunotherapy. When a limited number of allergens are responsible for most of the allergenic activity, fusion proteins comprising these major allergens can be used to simplify vaccine development. Three different allergen fusions of Par j 1 and Par j 2, the major allergens from Parietaria judaica, were characterized. Two of them (Q1 and Q2) showing reduced allergenicity but conserved immunogenicity represent suitable candidates for allergen-specific immunotherapy against P. judaica pollen allergy.