The WHO-IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee, started in 1986 to provide a standardized naming process for individual allergenic proteins. Researchers and clinicians now follow criteria and scientific methods that continue to improve for the identification of the allergenic source, the amino acid sequence of the protein, the type of allergic reactions of patients and methods of IgE binding using their sera. Allergen names help clinicians, diagnostic companies and regulators understand which proteins are important for diagnosis, research and immunotherapy. Peanut allergen Ara h 2.01 is a highly allergenic peanut seed protein, Ara h 5 is a profilin that is not important. Bet v 1 is a major birch pollen allergen. Der p 1 is a major house dust mite allergen. Since allergenic sources contain many proteins, and proteins are similar across some sources, the information helps understand cross-reactivity. Diagnosis has progressed from the use of skin prick tests with extracts of sources (pollen, fish, shrimp, milk, and insects) to the use of single protein types with molecular diagnostics. In the future, molecular immunotherapy will be used for more safe and efficient treatment. The WHO-IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Committee reviews previous data and names and gives new names. Currently there are 912 proteins from 282 species. We are revising the database structure and data submission forms through in two annual meetings, email and individual work.

Chair: Richard E Goodman

Secretary: Anna Pomes