Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc.

Other

Jason M Robotham

Kenneth Roux

Suzanne Teuber

Shridhar K Sathe

A purified Ig-E binding immunogenic polypeptide the amino acid sequence of which consists of SEQ ID NO:1 is disclosed. The purified amino acid sequence is a major allergen of the walnut. Also described are a diagnostic test kit and use of the purified polypeptide in tests for identifying patients having an allergy to walnuts. Mutations of the disclosed polypeptide, as well as nucleic acid sequences encoding therefor are claimed as part of the invention.

Purified linear polypeptide epitopes from walnuts and associated methods

The invention describes an isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a degenerate variant of SEQ ID NO:1. The nucleic acid sequence encodes an Ig-E binding immunogenic polypeptide the amino acid sequence of which comprises at least one sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS:4-25. The invention additionally provides an in vitro diagnostic test for detecting anti-cashew IgE in a patient. The test comprises reacting the patient's serum with a purified polypeptide the amino acid sequence of which comprises at least one sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS:3-25; separating the polypeptide from unreacted patient serum; reacting the polypeptide with a labeled human IgE-reactive agent after separating from unreacted patient serum; separating the polypeptide from unreacted labeled human IgE-reactive agent; and detecting labeled human IgE-reactive agent bound to the polypeptide after separating from unreacted agent to thereby indicate presence in the patient's serum of anti-cashew IgE.

Nucleic acid and allergenic polypeptides encoded thereby in cashew nuts

Nucleic acid encoding purified linear polypeptide epitope from walnuts

The invention describes an isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or a degenerate variant of SEQ ID NO:1. The nucleic acid sequence encodes an Ig-E binding immunogenic polypeptide the amino acid sequence of which comprises at least one sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS:4-25. The invention additionally provides an in vitro diagnostic test for detecting anti-cashew IgE in a patient. The test comprises reacting the patient's serum with a purified polypeptide the amino acid sequence of which comprises at least one sequence selected from SEQ ID NOS:3-25; separating the polypeptide from unreacted patient serum; reacting the polypeptide with a labeled human IgE-reactive agent after separating from unreacted patient serum; separating the polypeptide from unreacted labeled human IgE-reactive agent; and detecting labeled human IgE-reactive agent bound to the polypeptide after separating from unreacted agent to thereby indicate presence in the patient's serum of anti-cashew IgE.

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Tallahassee, FL, United States of America

Jason M Robotham