Cross-Reactive Pollens and Their Sources | | Cross-Reacting Groups | Representative Genera | | Grasses: | Pooideae | Poa (bluegrass), Dactylis (orchard), Festuca (fescue), Lolium (perennial rye), Agrostis (redtop), Anthoxanthum (vernal), Phleum (timothy) | | Trees: | Aceraceae | Acer (maples and box elder) | | | Betulceae | Alnus (alder), Betula (birches), Corylus (hazelnut) | | | Cupressaceae | Cupressus (cypress), Juniperus (junipers and cedars), Taxodium (bald-cypress) | | | Fagaceae | Quercus (oaks), Fagus (beech) | | | Juglandaceae | Carya (hickory and pecan), Juglans (walnut) | | | Oleaceae | Olea (olive), Fraxinus (ash), Ligustrum (privet) | | | Salicaceae | Populus (cottonwood and poplars), Salix (willows) | | Weeds: | Chenopodiaceae | Atriplex (scales and saltbush), Chenopodium (lamb's quarter), Salsola (Russia thistle), Kochia (firebush) | | | Asteraceae:
Artemisia | Artemisia (mugworts, wormwood and sages) | | | Asteraceae:
Ambrosia | Ambrosia (ragweeds), Xanthium (cocklebur) | | | Amaranthaceae | Amaranthus (careless weed and pigweeds), Acnida (Western water hemp) |
| Immunotherapy and Cross-Reactivity An in-depth knowledge of allergen cross-reactivity is imperative when selecting allergens for immunotherapy. The cross-reactivity of clinically relevant allergens should be taken into account when making allergen selections, because limiting the number of allergens in a vaccine preparation may be necessary to achieve the optimal therapeutic dose for each allergen. When cross-reactivity between pollens is substantial, selection of a single pollen within the cross-reactive genus or subfamily may suffice. |