A controlled study of allergen production in cultures of Dermatophadoides pteronyssinus.
Allergenic substances have been isolated from cultures of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus on wheat germ flakes and powdered yeast; as controls, non-sterile nutrient medium containing no mites, as well as sterile medium, were maintained and extracted under identical conditions. Chemical purification and analyses indicated the occurrence of skin-active allergens in all three preparations. This was confirmed by the assay of skin-reactivity in vivo and complement-inactivating capacity in vitro. Quantitatively, the medium containing bacteria and fungi contained more allergen than the sterile control, but less than the mite-infected medium. The evidence indicates that degradation reactions of nutrient components proceed faster in the non-sterile media than in the sterile control. The results of immunochemical analyses demonstrate that degradation reactions, give rise to the introduction of lysine-sugar structures inot high-molecular weight components from the medium. It is concluded that mites and micro-organisms have a role in allergen formation by promoting degradation reactions among nutrient constituents.
D000485:Allergens; D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D004391:Dust; D000939:Epitopes; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008925:Mites; D011817:Rabbits; D014908:Triticum; D015002:Yeast, Dried
D000485:Allergens; D003470:Culture Media; D004391:Dust; D000939:Epitopes; D007106:Immune Sera; D003165:Complement System Proteins