Compatibility of imported fire ant whole body extract with cat, ragweed, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and timothy grass allergens.
BACKGROUND
Recommendations regarding the administration of imported fire ant whole body extract (IFA WBE) combined with aeroallergens or environmental allergens in a single immunotherapy injection are lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the degradative effect of IFA WBE on cat, ragweed, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and timothy grass allergens.


METHODS
Imported fire ant whole body extract was combined with extracts of cat, ragweed, D pteronyssinus, and timothy grass. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was performed on each sample after storage for 0, 1, 3, and 6 months at 4 degrees C. In addition, cat and ragweed combinations were evaluated by radial immunodiffusion (RID); D pteronyssinus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition; and timothy grass by ELISA inhibition and Western blot.


RESULTS
Imported fire ant whole body extract combined with timothy grass demonstrated degradation of timothy grass allergens by SDS-PAGE, ELISA inhibition, and Western blot results. Cat and ragweed allergens were stable after mixing with IFA WBE, based on SDS-PAGE and RID analyses. Stability of D pteronyssinus allergens with IFA WBE was evident from SDS-PAGE and ELISA inhibition data.


CONCLUSIONS
Imported fire ant whole body extract combined with timothy grass resulted in significant and rapid timothy protein degradation. Imported fire ant whole body extract mixed with cat, ragweed, or D pteronyssinus revealed aeroallergen stability, yielding the possibility of combining these extracts in a single immunotherapy injection. Compatibilities of IFA WBE with other common aeroallergens remain undetermined and thus are not recommended for single-injection immunotherapy formulations.
Rans
Tonya S
TS
Department of Allergy and Immunology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas 78236, USA. tonya.rans@nellis.af.mil
Hrabak
Todd M
TM
Whisman
Bonnie A
BA
Grier
Thomas J
TJ
LeFevre
Dawn M
DM
Kwon
Paul O
PO
Tankersley
Michael S
MS
D000485:Allergens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D031164:Ambrosia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004344:Drug Incompatibility; D006801:Humans; D031784:Phleum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D014020:Tissue Extracts