Assuntos
Alérgenos/imunologia , Hipersensibilidade/diagnóstico , Imunoglobulina E/sangue , Venenos de Vespas/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Animais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , França , Humanos , Hipersensibilidade/sangue , Hipersensibilidade/imunologia , Imunoglobulina E/imunologia , Lactente , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vespas/imunologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Anaphylactic reactions caused by bites of the European pigeon tick Argas reflexus are repeatedly reported. This soft-backed tick is a parasite of wild pigeons colonizing urban buildings and houses. Occasionally the ticks can bite human beings, inducing anaphylactic reactions in sensitized patients. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to characterize the major allergen implicated in a series of anaphylactic reactions caused by Argas bites and to produce the allergen as recombinant protein for diagnostic purposes. METHODS: Protein extracts were prepared from whole A reflexus bodies, and IgE immunoblots were performed with sera from 13 patients who had an anaphylactic reaction with pigeon tick bites. A cDNA expression library was constructed from whole ticks and screened with a polyclonal rabbit antiserum raised against the major allergen. RESULTS: The cDNA coding for the dominant allergen Arg r 1 could be isolated. It encodes a protein belonging to the lipocalin family. Allergenicity of the recombinant Arg r 1 was confirmed by immunoblot, ELISA, and intradermal skin tests. CONCLUSION: The dominant allergen of A reflexus has been isolated and the corresponding cDNA cloned. The recombinant protein, a lipocalin, was expressed in Escherichia coli and was shown to be immunoreactive in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant Arg r 1 was used as a diagnostic tool in a series of anaphylactic reactions caused by pigeon tick bites.