Methods for reducing allergies caused by environmental allergens

Abstract

Compositions suitable for reducing symptoms of an allergic response to environmental allergens comprising molecules that specifically inhibit the ability of the allergen to bind to mast cells in an animal predisposed to having an allergic response to the allergen and methods for reducing such symptoms comprising contacting a source of the environmental allergen with such compositions. Kits, packages, medicaments, and means of communicating about the compositions and methods are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 : A method for reducing an allergic response in an animal to an allergen in an environment, wherein the animal is predisposed to having an allergic response to the allergen, the method comprising:
 minimizing exposure to the allergen in the animal predisposed to having an allergic response to the allergen by contacting a source of the allergen in the environment with a composition containing a molecule that inhibits the ability of the allergen to bind to mast cells in the animal predisposed to having an allergic response to the allergen, thereby reducing the allergic response in the animal to the allergen in the environment.   
     
     
         2 : The method of  claim 1  wherein the animal is human, feline, or canine. 
     
     
         3 : The method of  claim 2  wherein the allergen is from a human, dog, cat, insect, plant, or microorganism. 
     
     
         4 : The method of  claim 1  wherein the allergen is Fel D1, Can f1, Der p1 Der p2, Bla g1, Bla g2, Asf 1, Ara h1, Ara h2, or Ara h3. 
     
     
         5 : The method of  claim 4  wherein the molecule is an antibody. 
     
     
         6 : The method of  claim 5  wherein the composition is in the form of an aerosol, a liquid, a gel, a semisolid, a solid, or a powder. 
     
     
         7 : The method of  claim 6  wherein the composition is applied to a surface in the environment. 
     
     
         8 : The method of  claim 1  wherein the allergen is from an animal and the composition is consumed by that animal. 
     
     
         9 : The method of  claim 8  wherein the allergen is Fel D1 from a feline, the molecule comprises an anti-Fel D1 antibody, and the contacting step occurs when the composition is consumed by a feline. 
     
     
         10 : The method of  claim 1  wherein the molecule is a hybrid molecule comprising at least a binding portion of an antibody specific for the allergen and at least a portion of human protein. 
     
     
         11 : The method of  claim 10  wherein the human protein is IgG.