Editorial: Allergens and allergic sensitization in Asia and the tropics—volume II

whereas sensitization to birch pollen and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is more prevalent in Western countries. Moreover, certain foods consumed primarily in Asia may contribute to the development of region-specific food allergies. For instance, horse milk allergy is relatively common in Mongolia, along with lactose intolerance.Horse milk is often used as a substitute for children with cow's milk allergy, and fermented mare's milk (airag) is a national staple (personal communication with Prof. Munhbayarlah at the National University of Mongolia). Some important allergens from fruits and vegetables that elicit pollen-food allergy syndrome in Korea have yet to be characterized (5). Individuals may also develop allergies to foods encountered for the first time in a foreign country or to imported products as a result of cross-reactivity with pollen allergens from their country of origin.Interestingly, allergenic components can also be found in traditional and herbal medicines. For example, Pana g 1, a ginseng allergen homologous to Bet v 1, has been detected in some ginseng beverages (6). Japanese hop is also widespread in far east Asian countries, while it is now invasive in western countries (7). Therefore, it is important to investigate the similarities and differences between these regional particularities and those observed in Western and tropical countries.The aim of this Research Topic is to provide an update on patterns of allergic sensitization in Asian and tropical countries, with an emphasis on their similarities to and differences from those observed in Western industrialized countries. This collection serves as an expanded version of a previous Research Topic (8). In the current topic, five articles were collected, reflecting the rapid growth of knowledge and the critical need to characterize regionally important allergens. Two articles focused on sensitization patterns in eastern China, while three studies addressed molecular diagnosis in Thailand, Colombia, and India. In a retrospective analysis from eastern China, D. pteronyssinus (37.58%) was the most common respiratory allergen source, followed by mold (13.11%). Cashew nut (15.57%) was the most frequently identified food allergen, followed by cow's milk (10.99%) and egg (9.33%).These findings represent a distinct sensitization pattern that may reflect regional, lifestyle and cultural differences. A rapidly growing body of knowledge is evident regarding novel allergens from Asian and tropical regions. Certain sensitization patterns may be specific to these geographic areas, which encompass temperate to tropical climates and harbor diverse endemic flora and fauna. Although many of these allergens can exhibit