Polymerized soluble venom--human serum albumin.
Extensive previous studies have demonstrated that attempts to produce polymers of Hymenoptera venoms for human immunotherapy resulted in insoluble precipitates that could be injected with safety but with very limited immunogenicity in allergic patients. We now report soluble polymers prepared by conjugating bee venom with human serum albumin with glutaraldehyde. The bee venom-albumin polymer (BVAP) preparation was fractionated on Sephacryl S-300 to have a molecular weight range higher than catalase. 125I-labeled bee venom phospholipase A was almost completely incorporated into BVAP. Rabbit antibody responses to bee venom and bee venom phospholipase A were induced by BVAP. Human antisera against bee venom were absorbed by BVAP. No new antigenic determinants on BVAP were present as evidenced by absorption of antisera against BVAP by bee venom and albumin. BVAP has potential immunotherapeutic value in patients with anaphylactic sensitivity to bee venom.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000378:metabolism; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D011108:Polymers; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human; D012995:Solubility
D001180:Arthropod Venoms; D001514:Bee Venoms; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011108:Polymers; D012709:Serum Albumin; C044868:bee venom-albumin polymer; D000075462:Serum Albumin, Human