Allergy to bumblebee venom. II. IgE cross-reactivity between bumblebee and honeybee venom.
To obtain more information on IgE cross-reactivity between bumblebee venom and honeybee venom, we tested sera from venom-sensitized patients for specific IgE against venoms from the European bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), the North American bumblebee (Megabombus pennsylvanicus), and the honeybee (Apis mellifera). RAST, RAST-inhibition, and immunoblotting experiments indicate that bumblebee venom and honeybee venom contain venom-specific IgE-binding epitopes. These results suggest that immunotherapy using honeybee venom may not be effective in all bumblebee venom-allergic patients. Our experiments also revealed differences in IgE binding for venom from European and American bumblebees.
Central Laboratory of The Netherlands Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Amsterdam.
S O
SO
Stapel
J
J
Waanders-Lijster de Raadt
A W
AW
van Toorenenbergen
H
H
de Groot
D000818:Animals; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology*; D009656:North America; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test
D001514:Bee Venoms; D000939:Epitopes; D007073:Immunoglobulin E