Cross-reactions among grass pollen allergens.

We studied cross-reactions of pollen extracts from the grasses Phleum pratense, Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis and Festuca pratensis. We used immunoelectrophoretic techniques (Tandem-CIE, absorption in situ) and RAST inhibition, which allowed us to detect the high antigenic and allergenic relationships of the single grass pollens. Phleum pratense, however, revealed antigenic and allergenic differences as compared to the other 3 grasses.