Background

Feline allergies are a common source of allergens, affecting up to 15% of adults and children and causing symptoms such as rhinoconjunctivitis and severe asthma [1-3]. Data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicates that over 5 million asthma attacks occur each year, with ~350,000 emergency room visits attributed to patients sensitized and exposed to feline allergens [4].Sensitization to the major feline allergen, Fel d 1 (Felis domesticus allergen 1), elicits IgE responses in >90% of cat-allergic individuals [5]. Feline allergens are produced by the sebaceous, salivary, and lacrimal glands of cats, and the highest Fel d 1 levels are found in saliva. When cats groom themselves, Fel d 1 is transferred from saliva to their hair, and cat dander containing Fel d 1 allergen is then spread to the environment as small airborne particles [6-11].Furthermore, the small size and structure of Fel d 1 allows it to be easily and continuously airborne for long periods of time, making it one of the easiest allergens to inhale. Its molecular structure also allows it to adhere to fabrics, carpets, and upholstered furniture [11, 13-16]. These factors can make it difficult to remove Fel d 1 from homes, and allow it to travel on clothing and other items from cat-owning households to places where no cat is present. Fel d 1 can be found in homes and buildings without cats, especially in communities where cat owners live [17], causing serious cat allergic problems.Despite the prevalence and potential severity of feline allergic disease, current treatments merely address the allergic symptoms (e.g., antihistamines) or have demonstrated inconsistent results (e.g., feline allergen immunotherapy [18, 19]).

Inspiration

Outside the laboratory building of our team lives a Cat called "Dean". He is so cute and tsundere, attracting students to stop to admire his charmable appearance, and sometimes also touch him, to feed him some cat strips and cat cans. One member of the iGEM team this year is a devoted cat lover, but can only watch from a distance with envy because she is allergic to cat.

During the brainstorming phase, we realized that by preventing cat allergies, we could give more people who want to own a cat a chance. Under this idea, we investigated the existing treatment and prevention methods in the market, considered the feasibility of using antibodies for treatment and the benefits of commercialization, and finally confirmed the theme of this year's project.