POLLUEN

Our interdisciplinary consortium aims at understanding the future evolution of the allergenic pollen grain in a context of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration. Pollen will be collected from phleum pratense plants grown in the field under a CO2-enriched atmosphere and under drought stress. Timothy plants of various origins will be grown to observe possible evolutions of this plant favorable to adaptation to environmental stresses. The biological parameters of the pollen from these plants will be characterized (germination, quantity, size, ...). The influence of the culture conditions will be studied both on the rupture of the pollen grain and on its susceptibility to atmospheric pollution (ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particles from wood combustion). A detailed proteomic analysis is proposed with a particular attention on the importance of gibberellins in the production of allergens. Finally, the immunogenicity of pollen will be thoroughly evaluated.