title: Identification and characterization of Sarcoptes scabiei and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus glutathione S-transferases: implication as a potential major allergen in crusted scabies.
abstract: The astigmatid mite Sarcoptes scabiei is the causative agent of scabies, a highly infectious parasitic disease of the skin. Although the mite causes marked hypersensitivity reactions, particularly in crusted (severe) scabies, little is known about the specific scabies mite molecules involved in such immunologic responses. We have identified six genes encoding scabies mite homologues of mu and delta-like glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) as well as novel house dust mite GSTs. A mu class S. scabiei GST was subcloned into a prokaryotic expression system. The purified recombinant protein rSsGST01 reacted strongly with IgE and IgG4 in sera from crusted scabies patients. This response was not observed with control antigens or with ordinary scabies and uninfested patient sera. In addition, the specific IgE response to rSsGST01 did not correlate with the total IgE level of the patient. These results suggest that GST may play a role in the pathophysiology associated with crusted scabies.
authors.affiliation: Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dougall
authors.forename: Deborah C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Bart J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Shelley F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012520:Sarcoptes scabiei / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D012532:Scabies / Q000276:immunology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D005982:Glutathione Transferase