Immunochemical properties of the antigens of Triatoma infestans.
Taxonomically related to the cockroach Periplaneta americana (Pa), Triatoma infestans (Ti) is an insect that parasitizes two-thirds of Argentina and acts as a vector for American trypanosomiasis. The glycoproteins obtained by a Sephadex G-150 column fractionation from the whole-body extract prepared with the chitinous structures revealed antigenicity in rabbits, which developed specific IgG after 8 weeks of immunization, as detected by several serological techniques. Atopic patients living in the northern provinces of Argentina--Santiago del Estero and Chaco (endemic area for Ti)--with rhinitis/asthma showed immediate positive skin tests to Ti and its fractions, as well as an IgE-RAST-anti-Ti in 30-36% of them. Healthy nonatopic adults of the same area and other atopics and nonatopics from Buenos Aires (non-endemic area) were selected as controls and showed negative type I skin tests, as well as specific RAST. The existence of common epitopes between Ti and Pa was confirmed by absorption techniques, RAST inhibition, IEF and STIF-RAST. These findings have clinical and epidemiological connotations.
Alonso
A
A
Centro de Alergia e Inmunología, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Marino
G A
GA
Scavini
L M
LM
Rodríguez
S M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001118:Argentina; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007120:Immunochemistry; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010526:Periplaneta / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014224:Triatoma / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E