A Review of Honeybee Venom Allergens and Allergenicity.

Marta Burzyńska,Dorota Piasecka-Kwiatkowska

doi:10.3390/ijms22168371

Marta Burzyńska, Dorota Piasecka-Kwiatkowska

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22168371

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Abstract

Honeybee venom is a source of proteins with allergenic properties which can result in in various symptoms, ranging from local reactions through to systematic life-threatening anaphylaxis, or even death. According to the World Allergy Organization (WAO), honeybee venom allergy is one of the most common causes of anaphylaxis. Among the proteins present in honeybee venom, 12 protein fractions were registered by the World Health Organization’s Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee (WHO/IUIS) as allergenic. Most of them are highly immunogenic glycoproteins that cross-react with IgE and, as a consequence, may give false positive results in allergy diagnosis. Allergenic fractions are different in terms of molecular weight and biological activity. Eight of these allergenic fractions have also been identified in honey. This explains frequent adverse reactions after consuming honey in people allergic to venom and sheds new light on the causes of allergic symptoms in some individuals after honey consumption. At the same time, it also indicates the possibility of using honey as a natural source of allergen in specific immunotherapy.

Highlights

Alongside drugs and food, insect venom is one of the most frequent elicitors of anaphylaxis
The immunoreactive properties of Api m 10 were first assessed on a larger scale in 2011 by Blank et al [75]. They used a recombinant allergen devoid of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD) in the ELISA test, and the results showed that 53% (27/51) of patients allergic to Honeybee venom (HBV) and YJV and 47% (8/17) of patients with HBV showed sIgE up to Api m 10
This fact complicates the diagnosis of bee venom allergy, which is based on still-imperfect skin and serological tests

Summary

Introduction

Insect venom is one of the most frequent elicitors of anaphylaxis. Api m 2 (hyaluronidase), Api m 7 (serine protease CUB) and Api m 3 (acid phosphatase) analogues were detected in eight honey samples, whereas, Api m 1 (phospholipase A2), Api m 4 (melittin) and Api m 12 (vitellogenin) were found in one sample. This information sheds new light on the causes of allergic symptoms after consumption of honey. Pollen from nectar plants is the main protein component of honey [7], the allergenic properties of honey may result from the presence of secretions from the salivary and hypopharyngeal glands of honeybees [8,9]. This review explores a large number of studies investigating individual allergenic molecules of the honeybee, with a focus on explaining the causes of allergenicity

Epidemiology of Honeybee Venom Allergy

Symptoms of Bee Sting Allergy

Venom Immunotherapy

The Major Honeybee Allergens

Findings

Conclusions