L'allergie respiratoire au pollen de bouleau affecte un nombre important de personnes dans le monde. Il est estimé que 100 millions d'individus sont sensibilisés à l'allergène majeur du pollen de bouleau nommé Bet v 1. L’immunothérapie allergénique, basée sur l'administration répétée de l'allergène incriminé, permet la rééducation du système immunitaire du patient d’un profil TH2 vers un profil TH1/Treg et à terme la diminution des symptômes allergiques. Ces travaux de thèse avaient donc pour finalité de produire et de caractériser l'allergène recombinant Bet v 1, à des fins d’immunothérapie allergénique. Dans ce cadre, différentes méthodes analytiques ont été développées et appliquées afin d'optimiser le procédé de production via l'élimination de différentes impuretés liées au produit ou au procédé de production et de documenter la structure de l’allergène. En particulier, l'utilisation de la spectrométrie de masse a permis la détermination de la masse exacte de l'allergène ainsi que la vérification complète de sa séquence en acides aminés. Les travaux en spectrométrie de masse ont également contribué aux détections et identifications de diverses impuretés et produits de dégradations et ont ainsi conduit à plusieurs optimisations du procédé industriel de production de l'allergène recombinant. Les activités immunologiques de certains produits de dégradations ont également été investiguées. La structure tertiaire (spatiale) de l'allergène a été déterminée par diffraction aux rayons X. Enfin, ces travaux ont permis de documenter la qualité de l'allergène recombinant rBet v 1 afin i) de l'établir comme substance de référence pour la Pharmacopée Européenne et ii) de procéder à une étude clinique d’immunothérapie allergénique de phase II auprès de 483 patients allergiques au pollen de bouleau. / Respiratory allergy to birch pollen affects a large number of people in the world. It is estimated that 100 million people are sensitized to the major allergen from birch pollen, namely Bet v 1. Allergen immunotherapy, based on the repeated administration of the allergen of interest, allows the modification of the patient's immune response from a TH2 to a TH1/Treg pattern and thus the reduction of allergic symptoms. This study was therefore aimed to produce and characterize the recombinant Bet v 1 (rBet v 1) allergen, for immunotherapy purpose.In this context, various analytical methods have been developed and applied in order to optimize the production of rBet v 1 via the reduction of process or product-related impurities as well as to document the quality of the purified allergen. In particular, the use of mass spectrometry has allowed the determination of the exact mass of the intact allergen and the complete verification of its amino acid sequence. Mass spectrometry data have also contributed to the detection and identification of impurities and degradation products and have therefore led to several optimizations of the industrial process for the production of the recombinant allergen. Immunological activities of certain degradation products were also investigated and the allergen tertiary structure was determined by X-ray diffraction. Finally, this study was decisive in order i) to establish rBet v 1 as a chemical reference substance for the European Pharmacopoeia as well as ii) to perform a phase II clinical study conducted in 483 patients with birch pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis.

The main goal in reversing the allergy epidemic is the development of effective prophylactic strategies. Early life events, such as exposures to microbes, have a major influence on the development of balanced immune responses. Due to their ability to interact with host immune system and to modulate host immune responses probiotics, mainly bifidobacteria and lactobacilli have been used with some success in prevention of allergic disease. In order to be referred to as probiotic, bacterial strain has to undergo rigorous testing. We have selected three new Lactobacillus (L.) strains out of 24 human isolates according to their antagonistic activity against pathogenic bacteria, resistance to low pH and milieu of bile salts. Safety of these strains was proven upon intragastric administration to mice; moreover, we have shown their ability to shift cytokine Th1 - Th2 balance towards non-allergic Th1 response in isolated splenic cells. Allergen specific prophylaxis using probiotics as vehicles for mucosal delivery of recombinant allergen is an attractive concept for development of well-tolerated and effective allergy vaccines. We have shown that neonatal mono-colonization of germ-free mice with the L. plantarum NCIMB8826 strain producing the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 attenuates the development of...