Identification of Allergen-reactive Antibodies in the Blood of Pollen Allergic Patients

The project examines the hypothesis that monoclonal allergen-neutralizing antibodies can be recombinantly produced from B lymphocytes isolated from pollen allergic patients. Patient samples suitable for antibody cloning are selected based on seroprofiling for the respective allergens. The study aims at isolating lymphocytes from patients with potential allergen-neutralizing IgG in serum and to clone antibodies from antibody gene sequences obtained from B cells of those patients.

Inclusion Criteria: * History of allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis or asthma due to sensitization to grass- or birch Allergens * Male or female patients older than 18 years * Written informed consent for providing blood and also to allow experimental manipulation Exclusion Criteria: * Age \< 18 years * Any corticosteroids within the last three days * Oral corticosteroid therapy within the last ten days * Parenteral depot corticosteroids within the last three months