Bos d 4 Allergen Nomenclature
Bos d 4 derives its nomenclature from the standardized allergen naming system where "Bos" represents the genus Bos (cattle), "d" indicates the species domesticus (domestic cattle), and "4" is a sequential number assigned to distinguish this specific allergen protein from other allergens identified in the same species.
Systematic Allergen Nomenclature Structure
The nomenclature follows the internationally standardized system for allergen designation established by the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-committee, which uses a three-part naming convention 1:
- First component (Bos): The first three letters of the genus name (Bos)
- Second component (d): The first letter of the species name (domesticus)
- Third component (4): A sequential Arabic numeral assigned in order of identification and characterization
Biological Source and Protein Identity
Bos d 4 specifically refers to alpha-lactalbumin, a whey protein found in cow's milk 1:
- The "Bos" prefix unambiguously identifies the biological source as cattle (Bos genus)
- This standardized prefix system prevents confusion when multiple species produce similar allergens
- The sequential numbering (4) distinguishes this protein from other characterized bovine allergens like Bos d 5 (beta-lactoglobulin) or Bos d 8 (casein)
Standardization Principles
The nomenclature system ensures uniform identification across research and clinical settings 1:
- No duplication possible: Each allergen receives a unique identifier within its species
- International recognition: The system is maintained by the WHO/IUIS committee and recognized globally
- Traceability: The naming convention immediately identifies the source organism without requiring additional context
This systematic approach parallels other biological nomenclature systems, such as the sample coding conventions used in biorepositories where prefixes identify institutional sources (e.g., BOS for Boston samples) and suffixes distinguish sample types 1. However, unlike variable institutional coding systems, allergen nomenclature follows strict international standards to ensure consistency across all research and clinical applications.