International standards and resources
The International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) has an Allergen Nomenclature database(Opens in a new tab/window), which is approved by the World Health Organization and IUIS. Many peer-reviewed journals require these systematic allergen names to be used in their publications.
The World Health Organization Nomenclature Committee for Factors of the HLA System(Opens in a new tab/window) sets nomenclature for human leukocyte antigens.
Australian conventions and resources
The Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology(Opens in a new tab/window) is the professional organisation for immunologists in Australia and New Zealand. The society produces 2 journals: Immunology & Cell Biology and Clinical &Translational Immunology. Neither journal specifies standards for naming immunological compounds.
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy(Opens in a new tab/window) is the peak professional medical organisation for immunology and allergies in Australia and New Zealand, and publishes reports and other resources.
Immunoglobulins
Immunoglobulin names are abbreviated as Ig, followed by a letter to show the class and an arabic numeral for subclass:
IgA IgE IgG IgM IgG1 IgA2
A number of immunoglobulin fractions are prepared from human plasma and used for treatment of a variety of human conditions. Use lower case for the names, and abbreviate using initial capitals followed by Ig (no space):
intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg)
subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg)
normal human immunoglobulin (NHIg)
Human leukocyte antigens (HLA system)
Always set HLA solid (not HL-A).
Interleukins and interferons
Interleukins and interferons are defined with arabic numerals and/or Greek letters; a hyphen is added between interleukin (or IL) and the number/letter designation:
interleukin-1α [abbreviated to IL-1α] interleukin-12 [IL-12] interferon-γ [IFN-γ]
Antigens
Surface antigens are expressed with capital letters and arabic numerals:
CD4 CD11a
Allergens
Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction. For example, an allergy to peanuts is caused by one or more specific chemicals (proteins) in the nuts. Allergens are often named for the genus and species from which they originate, followed by a number. For example, cupin, which is one of the allergens in peanuts, is written:
Ara h 1 [Arachis hypogaea (peanut), allergen 1]
Many allergens (including most food allergens and pollens) belong to large groups of related proteins called families, clans and superfamilies. Use lower case for common names of allergens:
cupin superfamily profilins nonspecific lipid transfer proteins
See also Biochemistry.