PMID- 11291423
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20010503
LR  - 20140912
IS  - 0256-9574 (Print)
VI  - 91
IP  - 3
DP  - 2001 Mar
TI  - Allergenicity and cross-reactivity of buffalo grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum).
PG  - 237-43
AB  - BACKGROUND: In the subtropical climate of South Africa, grasses of the subfamily 
      Panicoideae are predominant. Bermuda grass has previously been shown to be an 
      important local allergen, and immunoglobulin E (IgE) epitopes of Bermuda grass 
      extracts are known to be distinct from those of the Pooid pollen extracts. 
      Following our demonstration of sensitivity in 43% of patients grass-allergic to 
      the Panicoid, Kikuyu grass, we have studied the closely related buffalo grass, 
      Stenotaphrum secundatum, indigenous to the Western Cape region, the east coast of 
      Africa and the oceanic islands such as Mauritius; and Eragrostis, another common 
      indigenous grass with a wide distribution. OBJECTIVE: To partially characterise 
      the allergens of buffalo pollen, and examine its immunological relationships with 
      local common grasses such as Eragrostis and Kikuyu. METHODS: Grass-allergic 
      patients were evaluated clinically, and skin prick tests (SPTs) and 
      radio-allergosorbent tests (RASTs) to Bermuda and grass mix were performed. Sera 
      of timothy grass-sensitive patients from Belgium were also included in this 
      study. Pollen extract from buffalo grass was characterised by specific IgE 
      binding by means of immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 
      Cross-reactivity between the grasses was studied by means of inhibition of IgE 
      binding. RESULTS: More than 90% of grass-sensitive patients were found to have 
      IgE antibodies to Buffalo and Eragrostis pollen. Inhibition of ELISA and 
      immunoblots revealed that extracts of these grass pollens could significant 
      inhibit IgE binding to the local grass pollens, Kikuyu, buffalo, Eragrostis and 
      Bermuda on solid phase, but 100% inhibition was never achieved, indicating that 
      cross-reactive but also unique epitopes are present. We also identified a subset 
      of patients with negative RASTs to Bermuda, and minimal inhibition by Bermuda 
      pollen extract. CONCLUSION: Buffalo and Eragrostis are important aeroallergens in 
      the Cape, dispersed during the long dry, windy summer. Our data suggest that the 
      local grasses are major sensitisers, and that South African diagnostic panels 
      should include extracts of buffalo and Eragrostis grasses.
FAU - Prescott, R A
AU  - Prescott RA
AD  - Allergology Unit, Department of Immunology, University of Cape Town.
FAU - Potter, P C
AU  - Potter PC
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - South Africa
TA  - S Afr Med J
JT  - South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
JID - 0404520
RN  - 0 (Epitopes)
SB  - IM
MH  - Cross Reactions
MH  - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
MH  - Epitopes
MH  - Humans
MH  - Immunoblotting
MH  - Poaceae/*immunology
MH  - Pollen/*immunology
MH  - Radioallergosorbent Test
MH  - South Africa
EDAT- 2001/04/09 10:00
MHDA- 2001/05/05 10:01
CRDT- 2001/04/09 10:00
PHST- 2001/04/09 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2001/05/05 10:01 [medline]
PHST- 2001/04/09 10:00 [entrez]
PST - ppublish
SO  - S Afr Med J. 2001 Mar;91(3):237-43.