CD Laboratory for Allergy Diagnosis and Therapy

Research is being carried out into highly effective diagnostic agents and vaccines for allergies with few side effects. Production using genetic engineering methods offers extensive opportunities to specifically control their effect.

Recombinant allergens are genetically engineered proteins that can be used for allergy therapy and prophylaxis. In contrast to naturally obtained and extracted allergens, recombinant allergens are free from contamination with other allergens. This makes them ideal for precise diagnosis (Component Resolved Diagnosis) and targeted therapy. For allergens from the Cupressaceae plant family (juniper, cedar, cypress, etc.) as well as for mugwort, ragweed and birch, research is being conducted into the production and application of such recombinant allergens.

In addition, the possibilities of using recombinant allergens in therapy are to be expanded. To this end, their molecular structure is specifically adapted to therapeutic requirements by modifying the relevant genes. For specific immunotherapy (SIT), they are modified in such a way that the risk of allergic side effects is minimised. In SIT, the body is desensitised with slowly increasing concentrations of an allergen, although the exact mechanism of desensitisation is not yet known. The reactions of so-called T-cells are presumably important in this process. Research is being carried out to adapt the molecular structure of recombinant allergens in such a way that the reaction with T cells is optimised, but at the same time the reactions with IgE antibodies, which are responsible for the allergic side effects, are as low as possible. Research is also being carried out into how the desirable property of allergens to form so-called IgG antibodies can be retained despite the modifications. The next goal is desensitisation through needle-free and painless application directly through the skin.

The development of an allergy vaccine based on a genetic vaccine is also being researched. Genetic vaccines do not use recombinant allergens, but the corresponding allergen-coding genes (DNA).

The overall aim of the research is to develop new and innovative molecule-based approaches that can be used for the diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of allergic diseases.