New approach to screen for fungal allergens using whole genomic sequence data in Kuro-koji molds

Abstract

  Fungus is one of the major allergens such as mites and pollen. Especially, it is known that Kuro-koji molds sometimes causes occupational allergy of brewers. There is, however, no good diagnostic technology for fungal allergy. The inhomogeneous allergenic extract of fungi, which is caused by the biological diversity, makes it difficult to diagnose and treat fungal allergy. Although the identification of allergens is important to make fine allergenic extract, few fungal allergens were identified because many cumbersome steps are required to be identified allergens. Then, we attempted to develop the simple identification scheme for fungal allergen using bioinformatics technique. Some allergen candidates of Kuro-koji molds were successfully listed.