Biotic and abiotic effects on pollen production and allergenicity of birch and related health impacts

对桦树花粉产生和过敏性的生物和非生物影响以及相关的健康影响

• 批准号: 411096677
• 负责人: Professorin Dr. Carmen Büttner
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Fachgebiet Geographie
• 依托单位国家: 德国
• 项目类别: Research Grants
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 德国
• 起止时间: 2018-12-31 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/411096677?language=en
• 关键词: Biotic; abiotic; effects; pollen; production

Although higher temperatures were often found to increase pollen production and allergenicity, several studies reported decreased quantities of pollen and allergen content under warmer conditions. Up to now, little is known about additional biotic and abiotic factors that might alter these pollen characteristics. There might exist a remarkable difference in the impact of pollen on human beings depending on the overall production and allergenic potential of pollen. In this study, we focus on the most important allergenic tree species in northern, central, and eastern Europe: birch (Betula spp.). The major novelty is the analysis of biotic and abiotic impacts on pollen of cloned birch individuals free from genetic differences in their natural environment across International Phenological Gardens in Europe. In addition, studying birch pollen of cloned individuals in a seed plantation in Bavaria guarantees the exclusion of genetic diversity as well as tree age and microclimate. We further focus on birch trees along an altitudinal gradient in the northern Alps that offers a variety of climatic conditions and a great genetic and species diversity. Besides the investigation of abiotic factors (e.g., air temperature, relative humidity, air pollutants) influencing pollen production and allergen content, we also focus on biotic factors such as virus infections (Cherry leaf roll virus) or the pollen-associated microbiome and the in vivo relevance of the pollen’s allergenicity using skin prick tests. A greater knowledge gained by our study allows the prediction of future alterations under climate change conditions in more detail. An interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists of landscape ecology, phytomedicine and environmental medicine shall answer how biotic and abiotic factors impact pollen production and allergenicity and finally the allergic reactions in patients.

虽然较高的温度通常会增加花粉产量和致敏性，但一些研究报告称，在较温暖的条件下，花粉数量和过敏原含量会减少。到目前为止，对可能改变这些花粉特征的其他生物和非生物因素知之甚少。根据花粉的总体产量和致敏潜力，花粉对人类的影响可能存在显著差异。在这项研究中，我们重点研究了北欧、中欧和东欧最重要的致敏树种：桦树（桦树属）。主要的新颖之处在于分析了欧洲国际物物学公园中无遗传差异的克隆桦树个体在自然环境中对花粉的生物和非生物影响。此外，在巴伐利亚的一个种子种植园中研究克隆个体的桦树花粉，保证了遗传多样性以及树龄和小气候的排除。我们进一步关注阿尔卑斯山北部沿海拔梯度的桦树，那里提供了各种气候条件和巨大的遗传和物种多样性。除了研究影响花粉产生和过敏原含量的非生物因素（如空气温度、相对湿度、空气污染物）外，我们还关注生物因素，如病毒感染（樱桃叶卷病毒）或花粉相关微生物组，以及使用皮肤点刺试验研究花粉致敏性的体内相关性。通过我们的研究获得的更多知识可以更详细地预测气候变化条件下的未来变化。景观生态学、植物医学和环境医学的科学家之间的跨学科合作，将回答生物和非生物因素如何影响花粉产生和致敏性，最终影响患者的过敏反应。