Article
Environmental Sciences
Shumin Zhou, Xingzi Wang, Senlin Lu, Chuanhe Yao, Luying Zhang, Lanfang Rao, Xinchun Liu, Wei Zhang, Shuijun Li, Weiqian Wang, Qingyue Wang
Summary: Exposure of Platanus pollen grains to nitrogen dioxide and ozone damages cell membranes, increases allergen release, alters protein structure, and enhances immunogenicity, ultimately exacerbating pollen-induced pneumonia.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Marie Choel, Anastasia Ivanovsky, Antoine Roose, Mona Hamze, Anne-Marie Blanchenet, Nicolas Visez
Summary: The coagulation of airborne particles on the surface of allergenic pollen grains is not well understood. This study quantitatively assessed the particulate deposition on allergenic pollen surfaces by sampling birch pollen grains (BPGs) during pollination. It was found that, on average, polluted BPGs carried 2 +/- 1 particles, representing an average surface coverage of 0.95%. The main coagulation process was hypothesized to be particle deposition by gravitational settling, although the effects of electric charges carried by pollen remain unknown. The presence of particle-polluted allergenic pollens appears to be common in the urban atmosphere, even under low air pollution conditions.
JOURNAL OF AEROSOL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alessandro Di Menno di Bucchianico, Raffaela Gaddi, Maria Antonia Brighetti, Denise De Franco, Annarosa Miraglia, Alessandro Travaglini
Summary: Today, excessive air pollution is affecting a significant portion of the European population, surpassing the standards recommended by the World Health Organization. This pollution, along with the seasonal release of allergenic pollen, poses a significant health risk and can cause severe allergic reactions, especially during peak pollen periods. Unlike pollutants from human activities, pollen sources have fluctuating trends, with high concentrations during the flowering season and negligible levels throughout the rest of the year. Therefore, defining data coverage standards for major allergenic taxa is crucial.
Article
Biology
A. Galveias, R. Arriegas, S. Mendes, H. Ribeiro, I. Abreu, A. R. Costa, C. M. Antunes
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of O-3, NO2, and their combination on Dactylis glomerata pollen, finding that oxidative defenses of pollen are activated by common air pollutants, affecting both its germination capacity and allergenic activity.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Pasquale Capone, Andrea Lancia, Maria Concetta D'Ovidio
Summary: There has been a significant increase in allergic respiratory diseases in industrialized countries in the last few decades, mainly due to the interaction between air pollutants and pollen. Studies have found that air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon dioxide exacerbate allergic reactions caused by pollen. Climate change, weather variables, and urbanization also play a role in these interactions. Occupational allergies have a significant impact on worker's health and quality of life.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Mamta Kumari, Archana Prasad, Laiq Ur Rahman, Ajay Kumar Mathur, Archana Mathur
Summary: The present study investigated pollen morphology and viability of four Ocimum L. species, revealing that O. basilicum had the highest pollen viability and germination rate, while O. sanctum had the lowest viability. The highest pollen germinability for all four Ocimum species was observed at -20 degrees Celsius. This research could aid in taxonomic identification of Ocimum species and be utilized in conservation efforts and improvement through cross-hybridization breeding programs.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Enning Zhou, Xiaofeng Xue, Haoxie Xu, Liuwei Zhao, Liming Wu, Qiangqiang Li
Summary: Studies have found that profilin family members are potential pan-allergens in foods, posing public health hazards. However, research on modifying the allergenicity of profilin allergens is limited. In this study, quercetin and its glycosides were used to modify the allergenicity of a profilin allergen from Brassica campestris bee pollen. The results showed that only quercetin could covalently bind to the allergen, resulting in structural changes that reduced its allergenicity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Donat Magyar
Summary: Plants are commonly used in allergy-related visual materials for medical purposes, patient education, and news. This study aimed to assess the depiction of allergenic plants on allergy-related websites. A total of 562 photographs were collected, categorized, and identified based on their potential allergenicity. The majority of the pictures (85.4%) showed plants with low allergenicity, while only a small percentage (4.5%) depicted highly allergenic plants. Brassica napus was the most frequently identified species, followed by blooming Prunoidae, Chrysanthemum spp., and Taraxacum officinale. It is recommended to use certain plant species for more professional and responsible advertising, considering both allergological and design aspects. Although the internet can provide visual support for patient education on allergenic plants, the correct visual message transmission should be emphasized.
Article
Biology
D. Magyar, B. Krasznai, M. D. Toth
Summary: Fungal particles were observed on ragweed pollen grains in air samples collected in Nyiregyhaza, Hungary. The concentration of these particles correlated positively with wind speed and airborne spores, but negatively with temperature. Cladosporium spp. was the most frequently found fungus on infected pollen grains.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Eva Klemmova Greguskova, Daniel Mihalik, Jan Kraic, Michaela Mrkvova, Jozef Sokol, Petr Gregor, Aneta Rafajova, Pavel Cupr
Summary: This study evaluated the environmental genotoxic load in mountain and alpine habitats of Slovak mountains using Pinus mugo as a phytoindicator. The results showed contamination from distant sources, including long-range transboundary pollutants. The study also identified the influence of different altitudes and slope exposures on genotoxicity and pollutant sources.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Donat Magyar, Anna Paldy, Tamas Szigeti, Laszlo Orloci
Summary: Different plant species have varying degrees of allergenicity. Existing systems for categorizing plants based on allergenicity do not meet the requirements for regulation, so a new evidence-based categorization system has been developed. This new system can be applied to different regions and plant varieties, and it helps promote the development of low-allergenic cultivars and identify overlooked allergens. Additionally, it provides a legal tool for preventing the introduction and spread of allergenic plants.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicolas Visez, Patricia de Nadai, Marie Choel, Jinane Farah, Mona Hamze, Helene Senechal, Maxime Pauwels, Helene Frerot, Michel Thibaudon, Pascal Poncet
Summary: The Poaceae family comprises numerous plant species, some of which produce highly allergenic anemophilous pollen grains. Despite limited knowledge on the chemical composition of allergenic pollen grains, research is crucial for understanding their potential health effects.
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yuxiao Tao, Enning Zhou, Fukai Li, Lifeng Meng, Qiangqiang Li, Liming Wu
Summary: The study investigated the mechanisms behind the allergenicity alleviation of enzyme-treated bee pollen using a BALB/c mouse model. The results showed that the enzyme-treated bee pollen could mitigate scratching frequency, ameliorate histopathological injury, decrease serum IgE level, and regulate bioamine production in mice. Furthermore, the enzyme-treated bee pollen can modulate metabolic pathways and gut microbiota composition, further supporting its alleviatory allergenicity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Roberta Selvaggi, Emma Tedeschini, Stefania Pasqualini, Beatrice Moroni, Chiara Petroselli, David Cappelletti
Summary: The article presents a new technique for passive monitoring of particulate matter using olive pollen as a bioindicator. The technique is effective in evaluating atmospheric quality, estimating the effects of pollen-pollutant interactions, and predicting potential increase in pollen allergenic potency.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jinane Farah, Marie Choel, Patricia de Nadai, Joanne Balsamelli, Sylvie Gosselin, Nicolas Visez
Summary: This study identified several mechanisms of action of gaseous pollutants on allergenic pollen, including modifying the external lipid fraction by reactivity of alkenes, adsorbing on the surface of pollen grains and causing oxidative stress after inhalation, as well as promoting the release of cytoplasmic bioactive lipids by facilitating pollen rupture.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)