Prof. Mitja Košnik, PhD, MD, and Assoc. Prof. Peter Korošec, PhD, have invented a new diagnostic approach in Allergology. (European patent EP2662691). The present invention relates to methods and materials for the diagnosis of anaphylaxis, and more particularly to the role of basophil absolute count and the expression of the high affinity IgE in the occurrence of anaphylaxis. Methods of diagnosing anaphylaxis by determining the absolute number of basophils in whole blood or by determining the expression of the [alpha]-chain of high affinity IgE receptor in whole blood are disclosed. This invetion was a part of the Slovenian Research Agency's (SRA) project titled Evaluation of Patient's Complete Specific IgEs Allergenic Activity by Combination of Recombinant Allergens and Multiplex Basophil Cellular Approach and the SRA's research programme Slovenian Allergy and Asthma Network: from Epidemiology to Genetics.
F.32 International patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 2048258673Prof. Mitja Košnik, MD, PhD, and Assoc. Prof. Peter Korošec, PhD, were a mentor and a co-mentor, respectively, to Julij Šelb's PhD thesis titled Integrated Diagnostic Evaluation of Hymenoptera Venom Allergic Patient. In this PhD thesis, novel diagnostic approaches in Hymenoptera venom allergy were evaluated with the focus on venom recombinant allergens and basophil activation test. The combination of recombinant allergens and multiplex activation of the basophil test has shown to be the most accurate approach for diagnosis of complex cases with a high clinical value. This PhD thesis was a part of the SRA’s research project Evaluation of Patient's Complete Specific IgEs Allergenic Activity by Combination of Recombinant Allergens and Multiplex Basophil Cellular Approach and the SRA's research program Slovenian Allergy and Asthma Network: from Epidemiology to Genetics.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 289594624Prof. Mitja Košnik, MD, PhD, and ASsoc. Prof. Peter Korošec, PhD, were a mentor and a co-mentor, respectively, to Mihaela Zidarn’s PhD thesis titled Association Between Basophil Sensitivity and Symptoms of Grass Pollen Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis. In this PhD thesis, a long-term study of monitoring different biomarkers, including allergen specific basophil response, was conducted in patients with rhinoconjunctivitis before, during and after immunotherapy. Grass pollen immunotherapy has been shown to induce sustained suppression of the allergen specific basophil response that persist after completion of treatment and could account for long- term clinical tolerance. It also seems to be associated with persistent blocking activity of IgG antibodies. This PhD thesis was a part of the SRA’s research program Slovenian Allergy and Asthma Network: from Epidemiology to Genetics.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 274007040Prof. Mitja Košnik, MD, PhD, and Assoc. Prof. Peter Korošec, PhD, were a mentor and a co-mentor, respectively, to Renato Eržen's PhD thesis titled Basophil Response and the Induction of Tolerance in Venom Immunotherapy. This PhD thesis investigates which immunotherapy changes reflect a state of protection and the induction of tolerance in patients treated with immunotherapy. Tolerance was evaluated by a sting challenge. We showed that a major factor, associated with the induction of intolerance after compilation a course of VIT, is suppression of allergen basophil response. No correlations were observed for different humoral factors (specific IgEs and blocking IgGs). This PhD thesis was a part of the SRA’s research program Slovenian Allergy and Asthma Network: from Epidemiology to Genetics.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 266030336Prof. Mitja Košnik, MD, PhD, and Assoc. Prof. Peter Korošec, PhD, were a mentor and a co-mentor, respectively, to Nika Lalek and her PhD thesis titled Peripheral Blood Basophil Sensitivity During Specific Immunotherapy with Birch Pollen. In this PhD thesis the effects of pollen immunotherapy on different immunological mechanisms were evaluated. Birch immunotherapy has been shown to induce IgG antibodies associated with a reduction in basophil allergen response. This inhibition was not observed after IgG depletion in the sera. These observations obviously suggest the clinical relevance of interaction between blocking and effector cells. This thesis was a part of the SRA’s research program Slovenian Allergy and Asthma Network: from Epidemiology to Genetics.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 268843008