ERBIC15CT980322                                                             ProjectInfo


Project
Automated Immunoassay System for continuous Air safety Control (AISAC) and its application to air pollution and
aero-allergen monitoring.
 

Keywords
Aero-allergens, pollen, immunoassay, air-pollutants, automated monitoring, air safety control
 

Objectives and Contents
The air quality in urban areas is of great importance. Many sources of pollution are threatening the quality of life and
the public health.
Present state of knowledge: gaseous pollutants are now well detected and quantified by automated equipment but
aerosols of dust or pollen particles are not easily analysed currently. Allergenic pollens are responsible of a great part
of the respiratory tract diseases. Their effect is frequently amplified by the air pollution mainly its particulate load.
Pollen traps are available throughout Europe but they need a well trained expert to count under the microscope intact
captured pollen grains. Their data are available only one or two weeks after the pollen capture. Diesel car exhaust gas
particles are the major source of small particles (less than 2.5 µm) in the air of our cities. Their detection and
quantification is not yet easy to perform. However their level in the air should be known accurately and rapidly in order
first to confirm their direct responsibility on pulmonary functions in conjunction with aero-allergens and second to
allow documented regulatory measures of the car traffic in polluted cities if needed.
Joint research project partners: our project involves four truly complementary partners specialised respectively in
immunoallergy (F), in chemistry of air pollutants (D), in analytical and preparative electroseparation techniques (CZ),
in analytical biochemistry (HU), in collaboration with one French SME, expert in integrated automated immunoassays,
and one Czech SME (CZ’), as associated contractor, very successful in producing monoclonal antibodies and biological
tests.
The aim is to contribute to build an automated air trap which will collect the air dust and at regular intervals, once or
twice daily, will extract allergens and organic compounds representing mainly the Diesel car soot and quantitate them
rapidly by an ELISA type of immunoassay. Such a versatile device should be able to detect any compound that could
induce the production of antibodies, as an antigen or as a small haptenic molecule. For example it could also allow, if
needed, to detect quickly and automatically any pathogenic agent present in the air, such as bacteria or viruses, provided
that specific antibodies can detect them.
Our work program includes: the collection of dust samples at different times and locations in Paris, Munich, Prague and
Pecs (F,D,CZ,HU); the extraction of organic compounds and aero-allergens (F, D, CZ, HU); the physico-chemical
characterisation and purification of some major organic compounds using HPLC and capillary electrophoretic methods
(D, CZ, HU); in vitro and in vivo testing of toxicity or adjuvanticity for aero-allergens of these compounds (F, CZ,
HU); purification of organic compounds by preparative free-flow electrophoresis and HPLC (CZ, D); the physico-chemical
characterisation and purification of major aero-allergens, mainly from pollen of grasses and trees and also
from latex due to their presence in aerosols originating from the wear and tear of truck tyres (F, HU, CZ); the
preparation of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to the molecules that will be selected, analysed and purified or
synthesised (F, D, CZ, HU); the integration of these developments into a new air trap to be built.
Foreseen Results
Optimisation of the immunodetection of allergens and toxic air pollutants on the basis of newly developed procedures
for their extraction, qualitative and quantitative analysis by high-performance analytical techniques with the final aim to
develop an automated air control equipment which will make possible precise preventive actions and treatments for a
better air quality and safety in urban areas.



 
 
 

Back to the Project Home-page

e-mail: Ferenc.Kilar@aok.pte.hu