US Patent 7407657 T-cell epitope peptides

The T-cell epitope site on a Japanese cypress (hinoki) pollen allergen molecule has been identified by stimulating a T-cell line established from a patient suffering from Japanese cypress pollen allergy with an overlap peptide covering the primary structure of the Japanese cypress pollen allergen. The peptide is useful in peptide-based immunotherapy for patients with spring tree pollinosis including patients with Japanese cypress pollinosis having cross reactivity with Japanese cypress pollen. The peptide is also useful for diagnosing spring tree pollinosis.