Title |
Mite faeces are a major source of house dust allergens
|
---|---|
Published in |
Nature, February 1981
|
DOI | 10.1038/289592a0 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
E. R. Tovey, M. D. Chapman, T. A. E. Platts-Mills |
Abstract |
The association between house dust allergy and asthma has long been recognized, and it has been demonstrated that a major allergen in house dust is related to the presence of mites of the genus Dermatophagoides. Using extracts of mite culture for skin testing, as many as 10% of the population and up to 90% of allergic asthmatics give positive immediate reactions. Although mites may occasionally become airborne during bed-making, it has also been demonstrated that they 'secrete or excrete' some allergen. Recently, we have shown that up to three-quarters of the serum IgE antibodies to mites are directed against a major allergen-antigen P1 (molecular weight 24,000). Using a radioimmunoassay it is possible to measure the concentration of this glycoprotein in both dust samples and mite cultures. These measurements, which are reported here, show that more than 95% of the allergen accumulating in mite cultures is associated with faecal particles. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Japan | 1 | 2% |
Netherlands | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 58 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 12 | 20% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 10 | 17% |
Student > Bachelor | 7 | 12% |
Student > Master | 5 | 8% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 3 | 5% |
Other | 10 | 17% |
Unknown | 13 | 22% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
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Medicine and Dentistry | 10 | 17% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 7 | 12% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 4 | 7% |
Environmental Science | 2 | 3% |
Other | 3 | 5% |
Unknown | 16 | 27% |