Allergenic pollen and pollinosis in Warsaw

Summary Our study of fifty two hay fever patients included twenty six solely allergic to grass pollen and twenty six exhibiting allergy to various pollen species, such as hazel, birch, oak, poplar, andArtemisia. Their total and specific IgE response was evalutated by the immunoenzymatic method, while clinical reactivity was assessed by recording nasal and bronchial symptom scores between mid-March and mid-July. Simultaneously pollen counts were made. Polysensitized patients showed significantly higher levels of both total and specific IgE, which testifies to the enhanced quantitative and qualitative IgE. Multisensitized patients reacted earlier than patients sensitized to grass pollen only, which confirms that non-grass plants flowering only in the spring cause the priming effect on the nasal and bronchial mucosa. The early symptoms may be attributable to tree pollen sensitivity or may refletct higher grass pollen IgE levels in the polysensitized group. Characteristically, nasal symptoms preceded bronchial symptoms of several weeks.On comparing nasal washing from the polysensitized patients to washing from patients with grass pollen, we found much cytological material with the predominance of eosinophils.     

Allergenic pollen plants and their influential factors in urban areas

Owing to unsuitable green space construction, abundant allergenic pollen plants are centralized in urban areas, producing allergenic pollen. A mass of airborne allergenic pollen could cause pollinosis to badly influence people's robustness. To provide scientific basis for reasonable green space construction, the research advances of allergenic plants were reviewed. Firstly, species composition, phenological characteristics and influential factors (which include unsuitable green land construction, urban heat island effect, traffic pollution, etc.) were summarized. Secondly, the strategies controlling allergenic pollen plants were proposed. Thirdly, some problems on allergenic plants worthy of more research, including allergenic mechanism and methodology, were also put forward.     

Allergenic pollen plants and their influential factors in urban areas

Owing to unsuitable green space construction, abundant allergenic pollen plants are centralized in urban areas, producing allergenic pollen. A mass of airborne allergenic pollen could cause pollinosis to badly influence people's robustness. To provide scientific basis for reasonable green space construction, the research advances of allergenic plants were reviewed. Firstly, species composition, phenological characteristics and influential factors (which include unsuitable green land construction, urban heat island effect, traffic pollution, etc.) were summarized. Secondly, the strategies controlling allergenic pollen plants were proposed. Thirdly, some problems on allergenic plants worthy of more research, including allergenic mechanism and methodology, were also put forward.     

城市中的花粉致敏植物及其影响因素

大量致敏花粉飘散于空气中会引发花粉症,严重危害人体健康。由于不当的城市绿地建设使得花粉致敏植物在城市中大量聚集,加之城市热岛效应和交通污染等多方面的因素,使得城市中花粉症患者数量激增。综述了花粉致敏植物的种类、物候特征和影响因素提出了控制花粉致敏植物的建议;总结了目前花粉致敏植物研究中应进一步关注的问题,旨在为改善城市空气质量,建设合理绿化环境提供科学依据。     

Antifungal activity of some plant extracts on some pathogenic fungi

The inhibitory activity of five plant extracts viz. Artemisia absinthium L., Rumex obtusifolius L., Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wiggers, Plantago lanceolata L. and Malva sylvestris L. were evaluated against the mycelial growth of three fungi Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Penicillium expansum Link ex Thom. and Mucor piriformis Fisher that cause rot diseases in fruits and vegetables resulting in low yield and quality of fruits and vegetables. Results revealed that all the concentrations of plant extracts brought about significant inhibition in the mycelial growth of these pathogenic fungi. However, the highest concentration caused maximum inhibition in the mycelial growth followed by lower concentrations of plant extracts. The extract of A. absinthium leaves at highest concentration (S) proved highly effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of all these pathogenic fungi followed by other plant extracts. These plants thus may have potential as the new natural fungicide for management of fungal rot diseases.     

NADPH oxidase activity in allergenic pollen grains of different plant species

Pollen is an important trigger of allergic diseases. Recent studies have shown that ragweed pollen NAD(P)H oxidase generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of allergies in mouse models. Here, we demonstrated that allergenic pollen grains showed NAD(P)H oxidase activity that differed in intensity and localization according to the plant families. The activity occurred at the surface or in the cytoplasm in pollen of grasses, birch, and ragweed; in subpollen particles released from ragweed pollen; and at the inner surface or in the cytoplasm but not on the outer wall, which was sloughed off after the rupture, of pollen of Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress. The activity was mostly concentrated within insoluble fractions, suggesting that it facilitates the exposure of tissues to ROS generated by this enzyme. The extent of exposure to pollen-generated ROS could differ among the plant families.     

Allergenic activity of mites of the genus Dermatophagoides

The allergenic activities of the laboratory batches of D. farinae allergens have been studied by the methods of indirect mast-cell degranulation, neuroglial cytocrit, electrophoretic mobility changes. D. farinae allergens have been shown to possess specific activity. The method of changes in the electrophoretic mobility of sheep red blood cells has demonstrated that D. pteronyssimus and D. farinae allergens possess common allergenic properties.     

Fungicidal activity of some plant extracts against rhizoctonia

The leaf extracts of Piper guinensis, Ocimum sanctum, O. gratissimum and Cymbopogon citratus were effective in reducing the radial growth of Rhizoctonia solani in vitro and in checking the spread of the disease caused by the pathogen in the field. P. guinensis was the best in checking the spread of the pathogen both in vitro and in vivo. This was followed by C. citratus, O. sanctum and O. gratissimum. Citrus limon reduced the radial growth of the pathogen in vitro but failed to check the spread of the disease effectively in the field. Alcohol extracts were more effective than water extracts.     

Biocontrol attack increases pollen limitation under some circumstances in the invasive plant Centaurea solstitialis

Herbivore damage often deters pollinator visitation and many invasive plants in North America are pollinator-dependent. This has important implications for the biological control of invasive plants because it means that agents that deter pollinators may have a larger than expected impact on the plant. Yet interactions between pollinators and biocontrol agents are rarely evaluated. Centaurea solstitialis, one of the most problematic invasive species in California, is dependent on pollinators for reproduction. I factorially manipulated infection by a biocontrol pathogen and pollen supplementation to test for (1) pollen limitation in C. solstitialis, (2) whether infection increased pollen limitation, and (3) whether this varied across a soil moisture gradient. Plants growing on north-facing slopes where soil moisture was higher experienced mild pollen limitation in the absence of the pathogen and more pronounced pollen limitation when they were infected. Plants on drier south-facing slopes did not suffer from pollen limitation but instead appeared to suffer from resource limitation. Pathogen infection directly reduced seed set in C. solstitialis by 67–72 %. On north-facing slopes, infection had an additional, indirect effect by increasing the degree of pollen limitation plants experienced. The trait that mediates this indirect pathogen–pollinator interaction is the number of inflorescences plants produced: infected plants made fewer inflorescences which led to greater pollen limitation. Although in the present study this outcome is dependent on abiotic factors that vary over small spatial scales, exploiting other invasive plants’ dependence on pollinators by selecting agents that deter visitation may enhance agent impact.     

Antioxidant properties of some hydroalcoholic plant extracts with antiinflammatory activity

The hydroalcoholic extracts of Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra which exhibited different anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated for the possible mode of action by studying their antioxidant potential. In the present study we investigated if standardized hydroalcoholic extracts of plants such as Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra produced by Hofigal Stock Company could modulate the respiratory burst of human activated neutrophils, as a consequence of their antioxidant capacity. Their antioxidant properties were measured using a colorimetric assay (Total Antioxidant Status kit). We demonstrated that Hypericum perforatum and Calendula officinalis hydroalcoholic extracts possessed a significant antioxidant activity while Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra hydroalcoholic extracts had a minor antioxidant status. Using reactive oxygen species-generating systems (OZ-activated human PMN neutrophils), Calendula officinalis and Hypericum perforatum extracts showed strong reactive oxygen species scavenging property, Hypericum perforatum extract exhibing the highest scavenging activity. These results confirm the potential of Calendula officinalis and Hypericum perforatum investigated hydroalcoholic extracts as medicinal remedies to be used in different inflammatory/allergic diseases. These extracts could be a useful tool for obtaining new antioxidant/anti-inflammatory agents.     

Immunochemical characteristics of plant pollen allergoid

Allergen from ragweed pollen was treated with formaldehyde to obtain allergoid. The preparation obtained loses to a significant extent its ability to react not only with allergic antibodies (reagins) of the patients but also with precipitins of sera from rabbits hyperimmunized with allergen. Immunoelectrophoresis in agarose allowed a conclusion that formaldehyde blocks up to 4--5 antigens possessing a higher positive electrophoretic charge. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel has shown that concurrently there occur stabilization and enlargement of protein molecules.     

Bactericidal activity of some plant essential oils against Ralstonia solanacearum infection

Potato plants and their tubers in Egypt are affected by one of the most renowned soil-borne pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum, that caused brown rot in potato tubers and wilt in plants. There is no efficient therapeutic bactericide so; control of bacterial wilt is very rough.The study investigated three different concentrations of seven essential plant oils under in vitro and in vivo conditions as a result of their effects on Ralstonia solanacearum growth and their possibility use as potato seed pieces dressing for controlling bacterial wilt disease incidence. In vitro, anise oil at the three tested different concentrations (0.04, 0.07, and 0.14% vol/vol) was the most effective one inhibiting the growth of T4 and W9 isolates of Ralstonia solanacearum then pursued by thyme, lemongrass, and clove oils. On the other hand, rocket oil at the tested concentration was the least effective one followed by fennel oil. However, wheat germ oil was not completely effective. In vivo, experiment revealed that anise oil at the three concentrations significantly reduced disease incidence and severity in sponta and hermes potato cultivars and their effect was associated with increase of peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase, phenols and the foliar fresh weight of treated plants as well as the weight of tubers/plant followed by thyme and lemongrass oils compared to the infected untreated control.Morphological differences in bacterial cell structure have been observed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Anise oil at higher concentration caused of cell wall rupture and degraded cellular components.     

Allergenic pollen in the atmosphere of Rohtak city,Haryana (India): a pioneer study

An attempt has been made in the present study to assess the allergenicity of dominant pollen types recorded from the atmosphere of Rohtak city. Skin prick test was performed with the antigenic extracts of 22 pollen types on 150 local patients who visited Asthma Clinic, University of Health Sciences, Rohtak. Markedly positive skin reactions (2+ and above) varied from 4.6 to 20.6 % to various pollen antigens. Cenchrus ciliaria (20.6 %), Zea mays (20 %) and Pennisetum typhoides (19.3 %) were the pollen allergens exhibiting maximum sensitivity. Antigenic extract of Cassia occidentalis, Cynodon dactylon and Ricinus communis showed marked skin reactivity in 18.6 % of patients. Prosopis juliflora, Chenopodium murale, Amaranthus spinosus, Cassia fistula and Cassia siamea showed 2+ and above reactions in 16.6, 15.3, 14.6 and 14.0 % of the local patients, respectively. Least reactivity (4.6 %) was shown to the antigenic extract of Cyperus rotundus. Out of 52 sera screened for the presence of specific IgE antibodies against different antigenic extracts, only 5.5 % showed >60 % binding. About 30 % and above binding was shown to the antigenic extracts of Z. mays, A. spinosus, R. communis and Xanthium strumarium. The concordance between positive skin reaction and serum-specific IgE antibodies ranged from 15 to 69 %.     

Allergenic pollen season variations in the past two decades under changing climate in the United States

Many diseases are linked with climate trends and variations. In particular, climate change is expected to alter the spatiotemporal dynamics of allergenic airborne pollen and potentially increase occurrence of allergic airway disease. Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of changes in pollen season timing and levels is thus important in assessing climate impacts on aerobiology and allergy caused by allergenic airborne pollen. Here, we describe the spatiotemporal patterns of changes in the seasonal timing and levels of allergenic airborne pollen for multiple taxa in different climate regions at a continental scale. The allergenic pollen seasons of representative trees, weeds and grass during the past decade (2001–2010) across the contiguous United States have been observed to start 3.0 [95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.1–4.9] days earlier on average than in the 1990s (1994–2000). The average peak value and annual total of daily counted airborne pollen have increased by 42.4% (95% CI, 21.9–62.9%) and 46.0% (95% CI, 21.5–70.5%), respectively. Changes of pollen season timing and airborne levels depend on latitude, and are associated with changes of growing degree days, frost free days, and precipitation. These changes are likely due to recent climate change and particularly the enhanced warming and precipitation at higher latitudes in the contiguous United States.     

Ca 2+ transport activity in mitochondria from some plant tissues

Mitochondria isolated from some 14 different higher plants and fungi were examined for their capacity to carry out respiration-dependent accumulation of Ca²⁺. Additions of Ca²⁺ give little or no stimulation of state 4 respiration of plant mitochondria, although the added Ca²⁺ was largely accumulated. Accumulation of Ca²⁺ required phosphate and, in most cases, was stimulated by Mg²⁺ and ADP or ATP. Ca²⁺ uptake was abolished by respiratory inhibitors and uncoupling agents. The ratio of Ca²⁺ ions taken up per pair of electrons per energy-conserving site was normal at about 2.0 for mitochondria from sweet potato and white potato; mitochondria from other plants showed somewhat lower ratios. Accumulated Ca²⁺ was only very slowly released from previously loaded plant mitochondria. Respiration-inhibited sweet potato mitochondria show both high-affinity and low-affinity Ca²⁺ binding sites sensitive to uncouplers, La³⁺, and ruthenium red and thus resemble animal mitochondria. Most other plant mitochondria lack high affinity sites. In general, mitochondria from sweet potato and white potato tubers resemble those from animal tissues, but mitochondria from carrots, beets, turnips, onions, cabbage, artichokes, cauliflower, avocados, mung bean and corn seedlings, and mushrooms show rather low affinity and activity in accumulation of Ca²⁺, probably due to lack of a specific Ca²⁺ carrier.     

Allergenic and antigenic proteins released in the apertural sporoderm during the activation process in grass pollen grains

A combination of transmission electron microscopy with immunocytochemical methods was used to localize antigenic and allergenic proteins during the maturation and activation processes of Poaceae pollen grains. The intine undergoes a series of modifications that play a decisive role in these processes. Allergenic and antigenic proteins were detected particularly in the intine of activated in vitro grass pollen grains. Labelling of antigenic proteins was more abundant and less specific than that of allergenic proteins. At the time of hydration, the operculum was lifted up, the intine was swollen and labelling of allergenic proteins appeared highly localized in the Zwischenkörper. No significant labelling was observed when the Zwischenkörper gelatinized. Immunolocalization of allergenic proteins in the activated Zwischenkörper indicated the presence of proteins related to activation of the pollen grains. This confirms that the intine function is involved in the processes of pollen tube formation and fertilization, and also suggests the possible mechanism activated in the pollen grains when allergenic proteins reach the mucosa of sensitive subjects.