Production and characterization of profilin monoclonal antibodies

Profilins have been identified as a pan-allergen of different plant pollens and foods. In this paper, we describe the generation of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) by immunizing BALB/c mice with Helianthus annuus purified profilin in order to characterize this important and common allergen. A panel of forty MAbs has been obtained, and twenty of them were used to map antigenic determinants in this molecule. At least two different antigenic determinants were recognized in H. annuus profilin by immunoblotting. Using the purified MAbs produced against sunflower profilin, we have analyzed the common epitope determinants in pollens of different plants: Olea europaea, Cynodon dactylon, Mercurialis annua, Phleum pratense, Parietaria judaica and Betula verrucosa. These experiments showed different cross-reactivity patterns.