title: Analysis of 10 Environmental Allergen Components of the American Cockroach in Taiwan.
abstract: Cockroaches are important sources of indoor airborne allergens. The American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) is the second leading inhalant allergen causing allergic airway diseases in Taiwan. We previously reported a difference in pathogenicity of different allergen components from American cockroaches.
  
  
  
  To analyze the environmental profile of American cockroach allergen components.
  
  
  
  Polyclonal antibodies were generated to recombinant American cockroach allergens, Per a 1 through Per a 10. The levels of each allergen in (1) whole-body extracts and feces from American cockroaches and in (2) fresh-frozen 6-month-old and 12-month-old dead American cockroaches were evaluated by immunoblotting and quantified. Levels of allergen components from patients' household dust samples were determined by competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  
  Per a 1, 2, and 10 proteins were present predominantly in roach feces, whereas other allergen components were found predominantly in roach bodies. There was a time-dependent decrease in total levels of some allergen proteins. Although levels of Per a 4, 5, 6, and 9 significantly decreased to less 20% of the basal level, there was no significant change in levels of Per a 2, 7, and 10 after 1-year decomposition. The most abundant allergen components in 20 dust samples from patients' houses were Per a 9, Per a 10, and Per a 2.
  
  
  
  The concentration of 10 American cockroach allergen components differed in the environment. Per a 2 and Per a 10 can be used as markers of long-term environmental cockroach control and Per a 9 as current status of control in patients' houses.
authors: Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Mey-Fann
authors: MF
authors: Lee
authors: Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: ysanne@vghtc.gov.tw.
authors: Yi-Hsing
authors: YH
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Da-Yeh University, Changhua, Taiwan.
authors: Chu-Hui
authors: CH
authors: Chiang
authors: School of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Shyh-Jye
authors: SJ
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Pei-Pong
authors: PP
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000737:chemistry*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006798:Housing; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins