Molecular and immunological characterization of Pen ch 18, the vacuolar serine protease major allergen of <i>Penicillium chrysogenum</i>

Abstract

Our results confirm that the Pen ch 18 allergen is a vacuolar serine protease of P. chrysogenum that matures through N- and possibly C-terminal processing. The finding that there are cross-reactive and allergen-specific IgE epitopes for Pen ch 18 and Pen ch 13 suggests that both major allergens should be included in clinically diagnostic P. chrysogenum extracts.