Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

Characterization of cross-reacting termite proteins and cockroach allergens

13^th Annual Congress on Vaccines, Therapeutics & Travel Medicine: Influenza & Infectious diseases

December 01-02, 2016 Atlanta, USA

Christopher P Mattison

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

Cockroach allergens can be a serious problem for travelers. Termites are evolutionarily related to cockroaches, co-habitate in human dwellings and represent an increasing pest problem. The Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus is one of the most common species in the southern United States. Due to the evolutionary relationship between the two insects, we sought to determine if C. formosanus termite proteins cross-react with cockroach allergens. Termite gene sequences were searched for homology to cockroach allergens using BLAST 2.2.21 software. Whole termite extracts were analyzed by mass-spectrometry, immunoassay with IgG and scFv antibodies to cockroach allergens and human IgE from serum samples of cockroach allergic patients. Sequencing results indicate greater than 60% homology between several predicted termite proteins and German and American cockroach allergens. Peptides from whole termite extract were matched to those of the tropomyosin (Bla g 7), arginine kinase (Per a 9) and myosin (Bla g 8) cockroach allergens. Immunoblot and ELISA testing revealed cross-reaction between several proteins with IgG and IgE antibodies to cockroach allergens. In particular, anti-cockroach allergen antibodies were reactive to putative termite homologs of hemocyanin (Bla g 3) and tropomyosin (Bla g 7). We have determined that several termite proteins, including the hemocyanin and tropomyosin orthologs, cross-react with cockroach allergens. This research may have important consequences in the allergy field and especially for cockroach allergic travelers going to areas infested by termites or indulging in local cuisine that may contain termites.

Biography :

Email: chris.mattison@ars.usda.gov