Abstract

Strategic Development of Baseline Protocols to Predict Climate Change Impacts on Target Plants and Prevalence of Associated Allergic Diseases (if any) in Pakistan

By

Muhammad Humayun

Pollens are male reproductive organs of plants, and several pollen species cause allergies in 20-30% humans. Pollens disperse in the air in large numbers during the blooming season, and are affected by climate change. Pakistan is one of the most climate change-affected regions and climate change stresses account for an increase in pollen allergies, biodiversity shifts and species extinction due to increased carbon emissions and irreversible temperature increase. Broussonetia papyrifera, Parthenium hysterophorus and Phleum pratense pollens from the three climatic regions: Peshawar, Islamabad and Kotli significantly differed in pollen size, morphology, biochemical profile and allergen expression. Shifts in mean annual temperature and precipitation significantly contribute to the changes in these pollens. Furthermore, allergenic bacteria associate with these pollens, which may play a role in pollen allergies or the transmission of other diseases. Future climate change estimation showed an increase in habitat suitability for the growth of these plant species, which can invade these species into new locations, causing pollen allergies. To study pollen concentrations, climate change impacts on pollen, pollen allergy, “POLLEN ONLINE database http://ww2.comsats.edu.pk/pollensonline/Default.aspx” is functional from the Biosciences department of COMSATS University for researchers and the public use by PI Dr. Zahid Ali, CO-PI Dr. Saadia Naseem, and Dr. Muhammad Humayun.