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allergen
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An allergen is an otherwise harmless substance that triggers an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals by stimulating an immune response.
An allergen is a substance that is harmless to most people but causes an allergic reaction in some individuals because their immune system overreacts to it. Understanding allergens matters because they can trigger anything from mild symptoms like sneezing to serious health effects, making it important for people with allergies to identify and avoid their personal triggers.
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Research
87,833 papers- Allergen-Associated Immunomodulators: Modifying Allergy Outcome.ReviewArchivum immunologiae et therapiae experimentalis · 2016Gómez-Casado C, Díaz-Perales ADOI: 10.1007/s00005-016-0401-2
- What makes an allergen?ReviewClinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2015Scheurer S, Toda M, Vieths SDOI: 10.1111/cea.12571
- Food allergen-polysaccharide interaction: Structure, characterization, digestion, and allergenicity.ReviewFood chemistry · 2025Yu W, Hu W, Hao Z et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.146390
- Allergen databases: current status and perspectives.ReviewCurrent allergy and asthma reports · 2009Mari A, Rasi C, Palazzo P et al.DOI: 10.1007/s11882-009-0055-9
- Assessing cross-reactivity in allergen immunotherapy.Allergy and asthma proceedings · 2022Weber RWDOI: 10.2500/aap.2022.43.210112
- [Food allergen regulations in the EU].ReviewBundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz · 2016Demmel A, Waiblinger HU, Busch UDOI: 10.1007/s00103-016-2361-4
- The Potential of Human Monoclonal IgE Antibodies to Establish Biological Potency and Stability of Allergen Extracts.ReviewCurrent allergy and asthma reports · 2024Rabin RLDOI: 10.1007/s11882-024-01168-4
- High pressure effects on allergen food proteins.ReviewBiophysical chemistry · 2013Somkuti J, Smeller LDOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2013.06.009
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Article
10 sectionsContents
- Examples
- Non-IgE
- Common
- Seasonal
- Diagnosis
- Fungal
- Treatment
- See also
- References
- External links
An allergen is an otherwise harmless substance that triggers an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals by stimulating an immune response.
In technical terms, an allergen is an antigen that is capable of stimulating a type-I hypersensitivity reaction in atopic individuals through immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses. Most humans mount significant immunoglobulin E responses only as a defense against parasitic infections. However, some individuals may respond to many common environmental antigens. In atopic individuals, non-parasitic antigens stimulate inappropriate IgE production, leading to type I hypersensitivity.