Title:Structural Phylogeny of Different Allergens May Reveal Common Epitopic Footprint
Volume: 28
Issue: 10
Author(s): Anubhab Laha, Rajib Bandopadhyay*Anindya Sundar Panja
Affiliation:
- UGC Centre for Advanced Study, Department of Botany, The University of Burdwan, Golapbag, Burdwan – 713104, West Bengal,India
Keywords:
Allergy, allergen, epitope, hypersensitivity, structural homology, protein sequences.
Abstract:
Background: The incidence of allergy has been increasing at an alarming rate over the
last few decades.
Objective: Our present study aims to find out the structurally homologous motifs present in different
proteinaceous allergens.
Methods: Significant number of protein sequences and their corresponding structures of various
pollen, fungal, bacterial, and food allergens were retrieved and the sequence and structural identity
were analyzed.
Results: Intra- and inter-sequence along with their structural analysis of the proteinaceous allergens
revealed that no significant relationships exist among them. A few, but not the negligible number
of high structural similarities, were observed within different groups of allergens from fungus,
angiosperms, and animals (Aves and Mammalia).
Conclusion: Our in silico study on thirty-six different allergens showed a significant level of structural
similarities among themselves, regardless of their sequences.