Recombinant allergens as a new diagnostic tool for allergic diseases

Almost 10 centuries ago, clinical symptoms of allergy were reported for the first time by the great Iranian sage and scientist, Zakariya Razi. However, his report was neglected because fatal infectious diseases were taken more seriously into account. About 1000 years after this report, infectious diseases were less dramatically propagated due to the improvement of hygienic conditions. Nowadays, prevalence of allergic diseases has increased more than ever before. This prevalence has imposed heavy charges on society. Thus, diagnosis and treatment of such diseases has gained particular importance. In Addition to recording patient's history, having skin prick test by applying natural extracts of allergens is among the oldest diagnostic methods. Using natural extracts, providing and standardizing of which is challenging, is often desirable in diagnosis of the allergic reactions. Developments in molecular biology, biochemistry, molecular biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques of preparing proteins has made it possible to identify and purify natural and recombinant allergens. The present paper, while presenting a brief review of diagnostic techniques of allergic diseases, pinpoints the role of recombinant allergens in promoting the applied techniques.