Identification of the major allergenic proteins from silkworm moth (Bombyx mori) involved in respiratory allergic diseases.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
Moths are a significant source of indoor and outdoor aeroallergens. High prevalence of IgE-mediated sensitization was demonstrated in a group of patients with allergic respiratory diseases. There are no studies on adult stage of these moth species allergens involved in allergic respiratory reactions - the aim of this study.


MATERIAL AND METHODS
36 participants were included in an experimental study, submitted to skin prick test with Bombyx mori wing extract and six other common allergens, as well as Western blot analysis with incubated nitrocellulose membrane impregnated with silkworm moth extract and human IgE-antibody. The participants were divided into 3 groups: 1) 21 allergic patients whose skin prick test was positive to Bombyx mori wing extract, 2) eight allergic patients whose skin prick test was positive to mite and negative to Bombyx mori extract 3) seven negative non-allergic subjects.


RESULTS
Among the 21 participants from group 1, 19 serum samples reacted to Bombyx mori extract by Western blot. All of them reacted to a protein at 80 kDa and five other proteins (66, 50, 45, 37 and 30 kDa) were identified in more than 50% of the individuals tested, considered as major allergenic proteins. Sera from seven out of eight patients sensitized to house dust mite demonstrated IgE-reactivity to Bombyx mori extract by Western blot analysis. Serum samples from healthy participants did not react at all.


CONCLUSION
Six major reactive proteins by immunoblot analysis from moth's wings sensitized patients can be potential allergens. The one at 80 kDa is the major protein, seen in all IgE-reactive patients from group 1 and in none from group 2, yet to be identified. Future studies should be conducted to better characterize these proteins.
['Araujo|Laura M L|LML|', 'Souza|Claudemir|C|', 'Zanchin|Nilson I T|NIT|', 'Rosário Filho|Nelson A|NA|']
D000328:Adult D000485:Allergens D000818:Animals D001249:Asthma D012831:Bombyx D003429:Cross Reactions D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007073:Immunoglobulin E D019570:Inhalation Exposure D019476:Insect Proteins D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D008925:Mites D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic D012882:Skin Tests
Allergens Bombyx Asthma Insects Rhinitis