Dataset Information

WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature: Providing a common language.

ABSTRACT: A systematic nomenclature for allergens originated in the early 1980s, when few protein allergens had been described. A group of scientists led by Dr. David G. Marsh developed a nomenclature based on the Linnaean taxonomy, and further established the World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies (WHO/IUIS) Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee in 1986. Its stated aim was to standardize the names given to the antigens (allergens) that caused IgE-mediated allergies in humans. The Sub-Committee first published a revised list of allergen names in 1986, which continued to grow with rare publications until 1994. Between 1994 and 2007 the database was a text table online, then converted to a more readily updated website. The allergen list became the Allergen Nomenclature database (www.allergen.org), which currently includes approximately 880 proteins from a wide variety of sources. The Sub-Committee includes experts on clinical and molecular allergology. They review submissions of allergen candidates, using evidence-based criteria developed by the Sub-Committee. The review process assesses the biochemical analysis and the proof of allergenicity submitted, and aims to assign allergen names prior to publication. The Sub-Committee maintains and revises the database, and addresses continuous challenges as new "omics" technologies provide increasing data about potential new allergens. Most journals publishing information on new allergens require an official allergen name, which involves submission of confidential data to the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee, sufficient to demonstrate binding of IgE from allergic subjects to the purified protein.

SUBMITTER: Pomes A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6019191 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature: Providing a common language.

Pomés Anna A Davies Janet M JM Gadermaier Gabriele G Hilger Christiane C Holzhauser Thomas T Lidholm Jonas J Lopata Andreas L AL Mueller Geoffrey A GA Nandy Andreas A Radauer Christian C Chan Sanny K SK Jappe Uta U Kleine-Tebbe Jörg J Thomas Wayne R WR Chapman Martin D MD van Hage Marianne M van Ree Ronald R Vieths Stefan S Raulf Monika M Goodman Richard E RE

Molecular immunology 20180404

A systematic nomenclature for allergens originated in the early 1980s, when few protein allergens had been described. A group of scientists led by Dr. David G. Marsh developed a nomenclature based on the Linnaean taxonomy, and further established the World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies (WHO/IUIS) Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee in 1986. Its stated aim was to standardize the names given to the antigens (allergens) that caused IgE-mediated allergies in huma ...[more]

PMID: 29625844

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Project description:BackgroundThe basis for a high-performing and resilient healthcare system is having a common, precise, and scientifically accurate language used across all stakeholder groups. However, such a common language is lacking for obesity. Therefore, the European Association for the Study of Obesity undertook a taxonomy initiative to provide standardised language for obesity as commonly used from policy to practice for other major policy-prioritised non-communicable diseases (NCDs).MethodsAn online Delphi consensus study was conducted, involving a panel of experts representing stakeholder groups of policymakers, healthcare professionals, people with lived experience, and researchers. Based on the understanding of obesity as an adiposity-based chronic disease, 54 statements demarcated into definition, scope and contextual usage were developed across six themes: Definition of obesity, Causes, onset and progression, Obesity prevention, Screening and early diagnosis, Treatment and management, Obesity consequences.ResultsOf the 194 invited experts, 70 (36%), 63 (33%), and 58 (30%) experts participated in rounds one, two, and three, respectively. Consensus was achieved on 70% of the proposed definitions, scope, and contextual usage after round one, 94% after round two and 100% after round three. The Definition of Obesity theme included distinctions between population-level indicators and individual-level signs of obesity, and how pre-obesity was defined. The Causes, Onset and Progression theme characterised the timing of obesity development. The Obesity Prevention theme explicitly differentiated between health promotion and primary prevention. Both the Screening and Early Diagnosis, and the Treatment and Management themes defined concepts supporting a continuum of care model. The Consequences of Obesity theme encompassed health and socio-economic outcomes.ConclusionThe taxonomy provides a contemporary evidence-based language about obesity that aligns with language used for policy-prioritised NCDs. The taxonomy is useful for education, advocacy, and communication and can be used by policymakers, healthcare professionals, people living with obesity, researchers, and health system users.

Project description:Background Representatives of the family Chironomidae (non-biting midges; order Diptera) are found worldwide. Freeze-dried chironomid larvae, predominantly of the species Chironomus thummi thummi are frequently used as fish food and are an allergen source for fish keepers and persons employed in the manufacture of fish food. At present, 9 allergens of C. thummi thummi have been assigned an official designation by the WHO/IUIS allergen nomenclature sub-committee: Chi t 1 to 9. All of them are hemoglobins with molecular weights of 16 kDa. IgE binding and cross-reactivity was clearly demonstrated for all these proteins. However, the assignment of 9 distinct allergen numbers to members of the same protein family is quite unusual. Methods Currently, the IUIS allergen database contains 12 allergen and isoallergen sequences from C. thummi thummi. The Uniprot database has demerged entry P02225, listed in the database for Chi t 7, into 7 entries, 5 from C. thummi thummi and 2 from C. thummi piger that are identical to 2 of the sequences from C. thummi thummi. Consequently, the 16 unique amino acid sequences of the mature C. thummi allergens were aligned using ClustalX2, a neighbor-joining tree was generated from the alignment and a percent sequence identity matrix was built to evaluate appropriate nomenclature. Results Pairwise sequence alignments showed that sequences belonging to allergens Chi t 5, 6, 7 and 8 possess sequence identities to Chi t 3 of between 51 and 63%. Chi t 1, 2, 4, and 9 diverge to a greater extent from Chi t 3 (<50% identical) and from each other. Phylogenetic tree analysis suggests the clustering of Chi t 3, 6, 7, and 8, while Chi t 1, 2, 4, 5, and 9 form separate clades. Conclusions Based on these analyses, the IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee renames Chi t 5, 6, 7 and 8 isoallergens of Chi t 3, even though their sequence identities to Chi t 3 are below the 67% threshold previously defined for isoallergens. The remaining hemoglobins, previously designated Chi t 1, 2, 4 and 9 will retain their previous names.

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WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature: Providing a common language.

Publications

WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature: Providing a common language.

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