| abstract |
The invention concerns the removal of various allergologically irrelevant low-molecular weight components from the usual aqueous extracts of allergenically active proteins of plant pollens. Described are the desorption and subsequent elimination, from traditionally prepared allergenic pollen protein extracts, of low-molecular weight pigment and other compounds which are normally retained by strong electrostatic and/or hydrophobic forces. The preparation of such depigmented pollen proteins does not impair their allergenic potency or immunological specificity. The invention enables the production of fully active allergenic pollen proteins devoid of adhering low-molecular weight substances interfering with their safety, diagnostic accuracy and clinical efficacy. The purified pollen proteins represent improved starting materials for chemical derivatization, i.e., the preparation of attenuated vaccines for immunotherapy. The invention also provides suitable products for investigating the molecular structure of allergenic epitopes. |