title: Allergenicity and cross-reactivity of booklice (Liposcelis bostrichophila): a common household insect pest in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Booklice (Liposcelis bostrichophila) are a common household insect pest distributed worldwide. Particularly in Japan, they infest 'tatami' mats and are the most frequently detected insect among all detectable insects, present at a frequency of about 90% in dust samples. Although it has been hypothesized that they are an important indoor allergen, studies on their allergenicity have been limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  To clarify the allergenicity of booklice and the cross-reactivity of this insect allergen with allergens of other insects, patients sensitized to booklice were identified from 185 Japanese adults with allergic asthma using skin tests and IgE-ELISA. IgE-inhibition analysis, immunoblotting and immunoblotting-inhibition analysis were performed using sera from these patients. Allergenic proteins contributing to specific sensitization to booklice were identified by two-dimensional electrophoresis and two-dimensional immunoblotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The booklouse-specific IgE antibody was detected in sera from 41 patients (22% of studied patients). IgE inhibition analysis revealed that IgE reactivity to the booklouse allergen in the sera from one third of booklouse-sensitized patients was not inhibited by preincubation with extracts from any other environmental insects in this study. Immunoblotting identified a 26-kD protein from booklouse extract as the allergenic protein contributing to specific sensitization to booklice. The amino acid sequence of peptide fragments of this protein showed no homology to those of previously described allergenic proteins, indicating that this protein is a new allergen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitization to booklice was relatively common and specific sensitization to this insect not related to insect panallergy was indicated in this population.
authors: Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. y-fukutomi@sagamihara-hosp.gr.jp
authors: Yuma
authors: Y
authors: Fukutomi
authors: Yuji
authors: Y
authors: Kawakami
authors: Masami
authors: M
authors: Taniguchi
authors: Akemi
authors: A
authors: Saito
authors: Azumi
authors: A
authors: Fukuda
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Yasueda
authors: Takuya
authors: T
authors: Nakazawa
authors: Maki
authors: M
authors: Hasegawa
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Nakamura
authors: Kazuo
authors: K
authors: Akiyama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007313:Insecta / Q000276:immunology*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D019476:Insect Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E