Update of the WHO / IUIS A llergen N omenclature D atabase based on analysis of allergen sequences

• Published in: Allergy (Copenhagen) 2014-04, Vol.69 (4), p.413-419
• Main Authors: Radauer, C., Nandy, A., Ferreira, F., Goodman, R. E., Larsen, J. N., Lidholm, J., Pomés, A., Raulf‐Heimsoth, M., Rozynek, P., Thomas, W. R., Breiteneder, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0105-4538; 1398-9995
• DOI: 10.1111/all.12348

The IUIS A llergen N omenclature S ub‐ C ommittee, under the auspices of the W orld H ealth O rganization and the I nternational U nion of I mmunological S ocieties, maintains the systematic nomenclature of allergenic proteins and publishes a database of approved allergen names on its Web site, www.allergen.org . In this paper, we summarize updates of allergen names approved at the meetings of the committee in 2011 through 2013. These changes reflect recent progress in identification, cloning, and sequencing of allergens. The goals of this update were to increase consistency in the classification of allergens, isoallergens, and variants and in the incorporation of the evolutionary classification of proteins into allergen nomenclature, while keeping changes of established names to a minimum in the interest of continuity. Allergens for which names have been updated include respiratory allergens from birch and ragweed pollen, midge larvae, and horse dander; food allergens from peanut, cow's milk, and tomato; and cereal grain allergens. The IUIS A llergen N omenclature S ub‐ C ommittee encourages researchers to use these updated allergen names in future publications.