Allergies are hypersensitive immune responses to typically harmless substances, causing symptoms like sneezing, itching, or severe reactions such as anaphylaxis. In the United States, over 50 million people have allergies. Seasonal allergy, eczema, and food allergy together affect nearly 1 in 3 adults and more than 1 in 4 children, making it the sixth most common cause of chronic illness in the U.S.* Management of allergy includes avoiding allergens, using medications, and sometimes undergoing immunotherapy to reduce sensitivity.

The NIAID Allergy Collection uses 3D protein structure data to demonstrate immune mechanisms related to allergies and hypersensitivity reactions at a biomolecular level. It features 3D models of allergens, immune system components, therapeutic agents, environmental triggers, and microbial factors. The models are generated based on structures in publicly available datasets like the Protein Data Bank (PDB), Electron Microscopy Data Bank (EMDB), AlphaFold, and PubChem.

The goal of the collection is to provide high-quality, interactive visualizations to aid researchers, educators, and healthcare professionals in understanding the molecular basis of allergies. It supports research in immunology, drug development, and public health by enabling detailed exploration of allergens and immune responses.

*Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021