Penicilloyl peptides are recognized as T cell antigenic determinants in penicillin allergy

Although hapten immune responses have been intensively studied in the mouse, very little is known about hapten determinants involved in human allergic reactions. Penicillins, as chemically reactive compounds of low molecular weight, constitute typical examples of hapten allergens for humans. Penicillins become immunogenic only after covalent binding to carrier proteins and in this form frequently induce IgE‐mediated allergic reactions in...