Salt grass
Summary
Pollen
A grass species producing pollen, which may induce hay fever, asthma and conjunctivitis in sensitised individuals.
Allergen
Allergen Description
The following allergens have been characterised:
Clinical Relevance
IgE-mediated reactions
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Salt grass pollen may occasionally induce symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis in sensitised individuals; however, no studies have been reported to date.
Cross-Reactivity
Extensive cross-reactivity among the different individual species of the genus may be expected, as well as among members of the family Poaceae to a certain degree, especially in the tribe Poeae (Cocksfoot, Meadow Fescue, Rye grass, Meadow grass).
It has been suggested that Chloridoideae (Salt grass, Bermuda grass, and grama grass) and Panicoideae (Bahia grass and Johnson grass) have little to no cross-reactivity between pooid and chloridoid pollen while the panacoid grasses show moderate cross-reactivity with both the pooids and chloridoids.
References
- Lewis WH, Vinay P, Zenger VE. Airborne, and Allergenic Pollen of North America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press 1983:117.
- Smith PM, Avjioglu A, Ward LR, Simpson RJ, Knox RB, Singh MB. Isolation and characterization of group-I isoallergens from Bermuda grass pollen. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1994;104(1):57-64.
- Smith PM, Xu H, Swoboda I, Singh MB. Identification of a Ca2+ binding protein as a new Bermuda grass pollen allergen Cyn d 7: IgE cross-reactivity with oilseed rape pollen allergen Bra r 1. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1997;114(3):265-71.
- Wopfner N, Dissertori O, Ferreira F, Lackner P. Calcium-binding proteins and their role in allergic diseases. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2007;27(1):29-44.
- Yman L. Botanical relations and immunological cross-reactions in pollen allergy. 2nd ed. Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. Uppsala, Sweden. 1982: ISBN 91-970475-09.
- Yman L. Pharmacia: Allergenic Plants. Systematics of common and rare allergens. Version 1.0. CD-ROM. Uppsala, Sweden: Pharmacia Diagnostics, 2000.
- Esch RE. Grass pollen allergens. Clin Allergy Immunol 2008;21:107-26.