Das Projekt "Allergenic potential of Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) with respect to climate change" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institut für Biochemische Pflanzenpathologie durchgeführt. Ziel: The objective of our project is to investigate the impact of different natural and anthropogenic environmental and climatic parameters (CO2, ozone, UV-B, drought, nanoparticles, soil and airborne pollutants) on the potentiality for increases of allergenic components in Ragweed pollen. Methode: Acquisition of the complete transcriptome/proteome under constant and the different climatic parameters listed above will be carried out. In addition secondary metabolite analyses and electron microscopy will be performed. In addition secondary metabolite analyses and electron microscopy will be performed.
Das Projekt "Monitoring and forecasting airborne ragweed pollen concentrations in the south-eastern part of its European distribution" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Météo Suisse, Station aérologique durchgeführt. During the last decades, there was an important increase in the prevalence of allergies in most European countries. Pollen related allergy is an important disease, resulting in symptoms of hay fever and asthma in 10Prozent to 20Prozent of the population, with notable higher prevalence rates in some countries, and especially in young age groups. Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) pollen is known as the main and most dangerous allergen in the areas infested by this invasive species. This North-American plant is spreading all over Central, Eastern and Southern Europe since the 1960's from three main infested regions: Hungary, Lyon in France and the Po Valley in Italy. Monitoring airborne ragweed pollen has two main applications: - survey the spread of the plant and the effectiveness of the eradication measures, - provide physicians with necessary data for diagnosis, therapy and prevention of allergic diseases, and allergic persons with information in order to reduce the pollen exposure to a minimum. In all countries of Western Europe, pollen monitoring and forecasting is well developed and has proven to be useful for many groups, allergy sufferers, medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies. In contrast, many Eastern countries have very few pollen monitoring sites and no developed forecast models. This proposal will focus on the following points: - installing pollen monitoring sites in regions where they are lacking - providing complete aerobiological data for these sites to the medical community and the public - developing forecast models of ragweed airborne pollen presence and concentration for allergy prevention - allowing aerobiological survey of ragweed extension in the whole central Balkan region and then recommendation for ragweed eradication - integrate and share results and data above national borders The 2000 - 2003 SCOPES project 'Forecasting of the main allergenic pollen types in Albania and development of the monitoring network' has demonstrated the usefulness of such a network at a national level. Now, the present project focuses on the extension of the use of aerobiological data towards the survey of a dangerous health threatening plant species and the recommendations for preventive or eradication measures, and international collaboration. Existing forecast models need to be adapted to this particular region, and modified to be valid for a larger area. New models will be developed and tested. These models will integrate the pollen situation in the different participating countries and the neighboring ones. For the first time in Europe, pollen forecasting models will be cross-borders.