Projects Martin Himly

In order to perform clinical studies with candidate recombinant allergens the physicochemical properties of these molecules have to be determined according to high-quality standards. As the allergy research group is well-endowed with high-end analytical instruments we aim to improve the existing and develop new bioanalytical tools for allergen standardization.

Understanding the mechanisms of systemic drug hypersensitivity also involves studying drug metabolism and methods of organochemical synthesis and bioconjugation. In the immunological context drugs are usually referred to as haptens eliciting adverse reaction solely upon covalent binding to carrier molecules. Solid diagnosis of drug allergy (skin testing) is thus often eluded by the lack of IgE receptor crosslinking capability of small molecules unless coupled to high molecular weight carriers. We therefore establish methods of preparing and analyzing drug-carrier conjugates also taking into account the possible immunological importance of metabolic drug intermediates.