Regional Aeroallergen Sensitization: Linking Pollen and Fungal Exposure to Molecular Diagnosis and Allergic Airway Disease

Allergic airway disease is influenced by regional patterns of pollen and fungal-spore exposure, which vary across climatic, ecological, occupational and urban environments. Yet, evidence on aeroallergen prevalence and sensitization is concentrated in a limited number of temperate regions, and diagnostic panels may not adequately represent locally important allergen sources. This creates uncertainty in prevalence estimates, clinical diagnosis and the interpretation of geographic differences in allergic rhinitis and asthma. Recent advances in aerobiological monitoring, component-resolved diagnosis and allergen characterization can distinguish genuine primary sensitization from cross-reactivity and identify clinically relevant molecular components. However, exposure measurements, molecular sensitization profiles and clinical outcomes are often studied separately, while differences in sampling, diagnostic platforms and population characteristics limit comparisons between regions. More integrated and transferable research is needed to clarify how environmental exposure, allergen composition and population susceptibility interact, particularly in the context of climate change, urbanization and changing pollen seasons.This Research Topic aims to characterize geographically diverse pollen and fungal-spore exposures, define their associated sensitization profiles at the molecular level, and clarify their relationships with allergic rhinitis and asthma. It will examine how regional aerobiological data can improve estimates of disease prevalence, diagnostic panel design, allergen immunotherapy selection and exposure-avoidance strategies. Contributions may investigate whether changes in pollen seasons, fungal-spore ecology or allergen content are associated with altered sensitization patterns and symptom burden, and whether these relationships differ across ecological zones, age groups, occupations and population settings. The Research Topic also seeks to identify the molecular and immunological mechanisms underlying geographic variation, including cross-reactivity and differences in allergen composition. Comparative, mechanistic, methodological or translational approaches are particularly encouraged, as are studies with multi-region, longitudinal, external or clinically validated designs.To gather further insights into the links between regional aeroallergen environments, molecular sensitization and allergic airway disease, this Research Topic will focus on clinical or pre-clinical studies that connect environmental exposure with molecular, immunological or patient-level outcomes. Single-site descriptive studies should include a comparative, mechanistic, methodological or translational dimension that supports interpretation beyond the study setting.• Comparative variation in pollen and fungal-spore exposure and sensitization across climatic, ecological or urban–rural gradients• Component-resolved and molecular diagnosis of locally important aeroallergens, including allergen molecules absent from standard diagnostic panels• Aeroallergen exposure and sensitization in under-represented environments, including grasslands, deserts, semi-arid areas, high-altitude regions, rural communities and rapidly urbanizing settings• Population-based studies of pollen- or fungal-spore-associated allergic rhinitis and asthma, including environmental, seasonal and meteorological correlates• Cross-reactivity and sensitization patterns across geographically distinct or taxonomically related allergen sources• Aerobiological monitoring using volumetric traps, automated systems, immunochemical quantification and DNA-based approaches, with clinical validation where possible• Changes in pollen-season timing, intensity and allergen content, and their effects on sensitization and symptom burden across regions or years• Occupational aeroallergen exposure among outdoor, agricultural, forestry and transport workers• Aeroallergen exposure in homes, workplaces, schools and other enclosed settings compared with paired outdoor measurements• Translation of regional exposure and sensitization evidence into diagnostic panel design, allergen immunotherapy and avoidance strategies• Susceptible populations, including children, older adults and people with established allergic disease• Harmonization of aerobiological and clinical methods, multi-centre datasets and data-sharing approaches• Geographic equity in allergy diagnosis and care, including relevance to SDG 3, SDG 10 and SDG 13 Topic editors: Le Cui, Yadong GAO, Qingyu Wei Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85257/regional-aeroallergen-sensitization-linking-pollen-and-fungal-exposure-to-molecular-diagnosis-and-allergic-airway-disease