The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

Pillarisetti V Roa

Brian M Martin

Dean D Metcalfe

A major heat-stable shrimp allergen is characterized as a 34 kDa protein corresponding to shrimp tropomyosin. Two IgE binding epitopes of this allergen have the sequences FLAEEADRK (SEQ ID NO: 1) and MQQLENDLDQVQESLLK (SEQ ID NO: 2), respectively. Surprisingly, both antigenic and allergenic activities of the allergen were found to be associated with these two peptide fractions. A-a-id antibodies recognized this allergen as well as a homologous 34 kDa allergen from lobster, prawn and crab, indicating that these antibodies recognize major cross-reacting IgE binding epitopes common to crustacea. The two epitopes are useful in the diagnosis and/or treatment of allergies, particularly in the desensitization of individuals that are allergic to shrimp and other crustacea. Variants and subfragments of the two epitopes display allergenicity, as assessed by reaction with allergen-specific IgE obtained from shrimp-sensitive patients.

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Pillarisetti V Roa