Cockroach allergy is an important health problem associated with the development of asthma, as a consequence
of chronic exposure to low levels of allergens in susceptible individuals. In the last 20 years,
progress in understanding the disease has been possible, thanks to the identification and molecular cloning
of cockroach allergens and their expression as recombinant proteins. Assays for assessment of environmental
allergen exposure have been developed and used to measure Bla g 1 and Bla g 2, as markers of
cockroach exposure. IgE antibodies to cockroach extracts and to specific purified allergens have been
measured to assess sensitization and analyze association with exposure and disease. With the development
of the field of structural biology and the expression of recombinant cockroach allergens, insights
into allergen structure, function, epitope mapping and allergen–antibody interactions have provided further
understanding of mechanisms of cockroach allergic disease at the molecular level. This information
will contribute to develop new approaches to allergen avoidance and to improve diagnosis and therapy of
cockroach allergy.