Gohieria fusca (GF) and Chortoglyphus arcuatus (CA) : Allergenic properties of two mite species

Abstract

Rationale Recent studies demonstrated that the mites GF and CA are frequent sensitizers in German patients with allergic airway diseases. There is limited knowledge of their allergenic characteristics. Methods Allergen extracts were derived from whole mite cultures of GF and CA. Immunoblotting was performed with the sera of patients (n=20) with rhinitis and asthma exhibiting specific IgE levels to GF and/or CA. Results Using GF extracts immunoblotting showed allergen bands at about 50 kDa (in 50% of the positive patients sera), 52 kDa (42%) and 13 kDa (17%). With CA allergen bands were found at about 21 kDa (79%), 30 kDa (57%), 58 kDa (50%), 52 kDa (43%), 24 kDa (29%), 31 kDa (29%), 26 kDa (21%), 36 kDa (21%) and greater than 60 kDa (36%). Conclusions We demonstrate that GF and CA are mite species of allergenic relevance. The allergen patterns of the individual mites revealed great differences, possibly indicating that both mite species possess characteristic allergenic properties. It is possible that there are similar allergenic proteins in both mite extracts in a molecular weight range of about 52 kDa. Using the patients sera, allergens of GF and CA could be found particularly in a high molecular weight range in contrast to the allergen pattern of other domestic mites.