The field of
allergy has markedly benefited of biotechnology progresses leading to the identification and cloning of numerous common
allergens. This progresses have contributed to better understand the physiopathology of some complex allergic manifestations such as the oral
allergy syndrome. Furthermore, the sensitivity of in vitro diagnostic tests appears to be improved by the use of recombinant
allergens; in vivo, they are also able to trigger an
immediate hypersensitivity reaction. In a near future, recombinant
allergens may advantageously replace classical
allergen extracts. Finally, the characterization of
IgE binding sites on recombinant
allergens, as well as
T cell epitopes, open the possibility to use recombinant
allergens in various immunotherapeutical approaches based on the administration of
allergen peptides,
allergen fragments,
allergen isoforms or mutated
allergens. Since those
allergen preparations have a low affinity for
IgE, they may substitute for classical
allergen extracts in conventional
immunotherapy, and improve the security of the treatment.