Cloning of latex bêta-1,3-glucanase cDNA and characterisation of the recombinant protein

Latex allergy affects only about 0.1% of the general population in Europe1-3, although healthcare workers in the Europe and America who frequently use latex examination and surgical gloves are more likely to be allergic to latex. Reports from Europe and the USA give prevalence figures between 2.4 to 17%4,5. Hundreds of proteins are found in natural rubber latex. Of these, only a small handful are allergenic. There has been much interest in identifying the proteins in Hevea latex responsible for latex allergy and much effort was expended on isolating and purifying the allergenic proteins from Hevea latex or latex products6. Also of considerable interest to researchers is the cloning of the cDNA that encode the protein allergens7. Successful DNA cloning would enable production of the recombinant protein that can then be used in immunoassays and in various immunological investigations such as epitope mapping. The International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) recognises eleven allergenic proteins (Hev b 1 to Hev b 11) of natural rubber latex from Hevea brasiliensis. Among these, Hev b 28 is a major allergen that has been detected in latex gloves9. This paper reports the cloning of Hev b 2 and the production of the recombinant protein. Some of its enzymic and immunological characterisatics are described. (Résumé d'auteur