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Allergy Nov 2005The purpose of diagnostic procedure is to classify a sting reaction by history, identify the underlying pathogenetic mechanism, and identify the offending insect.... (Review)
Review
The purpose of diagnostic procedure is to classify a sting reaction by history, identify the underlying pathogenetic mechanism, and identify the offending insect. Diagnosis of Hymenoptera venom allergy thus forms the basis for the treatment. In the central and northern Europe vespid (mainly Vespula spp.) and honeybee stings are the most prevalent, whereas in the Mediterranean area stings from Polistes and Vespula are more frequent than honeybee stings; bumblebee stings are rare throughout Europe and more of an occupational hazard. Several major allergens, usually glycoproteins with a molecular weight of 10-50 kDa, have been identified in venoms of bees, vespids. and ants. The sequences and structures of the majority of venom allergens have been determined and several have been expressed in recombinant form. A particular problem in the field of cross-reactivity are specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies directed against carbohydrate epitopes, which may induce multiple positive test results (skin test, in vitro tests) of still unknown clinical significance. Venom hypersensitivity may be mediated by immunologic mechanisms (IgE-mediated or non-IgE-mediated venom allergy) but also by nonimmunologic mechanisms. Reactions to Hymenoptera stings are classified into normal local reactions, large local reactions, systemic toxic reactions, systemic anaphylactic reactions, and unusual reactions. For most venom-allergic patients an anaphylactic reaction after a sting is very traumatic event, resulting in an altered health-related quality of life. Risk factors influencing the outcome of an anaphylactic reaction include the time interval between stings, the number of stings, the severity of the preceding reaction, age, cardiovascular diseases and drug intake, insect type, elevated serum tryptase, and mastocytosis. Diagnostic tests should be carried out in all patients with a history of a systemic sting reaction to detect sensitization. They are not recommended in subjects with a history of large local reaction or no history of a systemic reaction. Testing comprises skin tests with Hymenoptera venoms and analysis of the serum for Hymenoptera venom-specific IgE. Stepwise skin testing with incremental venom concentrations is recommended. If diagnostic tests are negative they should be repeated several weeks later. Serum tryptase should be analyzed in patients with a history of a severe sting reaction.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Antibody Specificity; Arthropod Venoms; Humans; Hymenoptera; Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Insect Bites and Stings; Molecular Weight; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Skin Tests; Venoms
PubMed: 16197464
DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2005.00963.x -
Clinical and Experimental Allergy :... Feb 2021
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Arthropod Venoms; Bee Venoms; Desensitization, Immunologic; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Insect Bites and Stings; Wasp Venoms; Wasps
PubMed: 33617014
DOI: 10.1111/cea.13807 -
Clinical and Experimental Allergy :... Apr 2018Stings of Hymenoptera can induce IgE-mediated systemic and even fatal allergic reactions. Venom-specific immunotherapy (VIT) is the only disease-modifying and curative... (Review)
Review
Stings of Hymenoptera can induce IgE-mediated systemic and even fatal allergic reactions. Venom-specific immunotherapy (VIT) is the only disease-modifying and curative treatment of venom allergy. However, choosing the correct venom for VIT represents a necessary prerequisite for efficient protection against further anaphylactic sting reactions after VIT. In the past, therapeutic decisions based on the measurement of specific IgE (sIgE) levels to whole venom extracts were not always straightforward, especially when the patient was not able to identify the culprit insect. In the last years, the increasing knowledge about the molecular structure and relevance of important venom allergens and their availability as recombinant allergens, devoid of cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants, resulted in the development of an advanced component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) approach in venom allergy. Already to date, CRD has increased the sensitivity of sIgE detection and enabled the discrimination between primary sensitization and cross-reactivity, particularly in patients with sensitization to both honeybee and vespid venom. Hence, CRD in many patients improves the selection of the appropriate immunotherapeutic intervention. Moreover, the detailed knowledge about sensitization profiles on a molecular level might open new options to identify patients who are at increased risk of side-effects or not to respond to immunotherapy. Therefore, increasing potential of CRD becomes evident, to direct therapeutic decisions in a personalized and patient-tailored manner. Reviewed here are the state of the art options, recent developments and future perspectives of CRD of Hymenoptera venom allergy.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Arthropod Venoms; Desensitization, Immunologic; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Insect Bites and Stings; Precision Medicine
PubMed: 29331065
DOI: 10.1111/cea.13090 -
Toxins Aug 2022Venoms from venomous arthropods, including bees, typically induce an immediate local inflammatory response; however, how venoms acutely elicit inflammatory response and...
Venoms from venomous arthropods, including bees, typically induce an immediate local inflammatory response; however, how venoms acutely elicit inflammatory response and which components induce an inflammatory response remain unknown. Moreover, the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD3) in venom and its functional link to the acute inflammatory response has not been determined to date. Here, we confirmed that SOD3 in bee venom (bvSOD3) acts as an inducer of HO production to promote acute inflammatory responses. In mouse models, exogenous bvSOD3 rapidly induced HO overproduction through superoxides that are endogenously produced by melittin and phospholipase A, which then upregulated caspase-1 activation and proinflammatory molecule secretion and promoted an acute inflammatory response. We also showed that the relatively severe noxious effect of bvSOD3 elevated a type 2 immune response and bvSOD3 immunization protected against venom-induced inflammation. Our findings provide a novel view of the mechanism underlying bee venom-induced acute inflammation and offer a new approach to therapeutic treatments for bee envenoming and bee venom preparations for venom therapy/immunotherapy.
Topics: Animals; Bee Venoms; Bees; Hydrogen Peroxide; Inflammation; Melitten; Mice; Superoxide Dismutase
PubMed: 36006220
DOI: 10.3390/toxins14080558 -
Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical... Aug 2008Knowledge of the epidemiology, natural history and risk factors of insect-venom allergy is crucial for improving the clinical management of allergic patients. This... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Knowledge of the epidemiology, natural history and risk factors of insect-venom allergy is crucial for improving the clinical management of allergic patients. This review focuses on the recent research on these aspects of Hymenoptera-sting anaphylactic reactions.
RECENT FINDINGS
The latest data from population-based studies of anaphylactic reactions due to Hymenoptera stings, as well as those extrapolated from studies of epidemiology of anaphylaxis due to any cause are reviewed. The topic of biphasic anaphylactic reactions due to insect stings is also examined. Although no parameter has been identified that can predict which sensitized individuals will have a future anaphylactic reaction, several factors associated with the severity of a systemic resting reaction are known and emphasized here.
SUMMARY
As half of individuals with fatal sting reactions had no documented history of previous systemic reaction, we need to further improve the knowledge of the natural history and risk factors, especially in asymptomatic-sensitized individuals. Moreover, and no less important, the epidemiological studies on sting anaphylaxis conducted in the 2000s continue to reveal the poor management of allergic patients and the startling lack of awareness of the efficacy of venom immunotherapy. These findings indicate the urgent need to educate the general population and doctors on the management of venom-allergic patients.
Topics: Age Factors; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Arthropod Venoms; Humans; Hymenoptera; Insect Bites and Stings; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 18596590
DOI: 10.1097/ACI.0b013e32830638c5 -
Toxins Apr 2020Centipedes are among the oldest venomous arthropods that use their venom to subdue the prey. The major components of centipede venom are a variety of...
Centipedes are among the oldest venomous arthropods that use their venom to subdue the prey. The major components of centipede venom are a variety of low-molecular-weight peptide toxins that have evolved to target voltage-gated ion channels to interfere with the central system of prey and produce pain or paralysis for efficient hunting. Peptide toxins usually contain several intramolecular disulfide bonds, which confer chemical, thermal and biological stability. In addition, centipede peptides generally have novel structures and high potency and specificity and therefore hold great promise both as diagnostic tools and in the treatment of human disease. Here, we review the centipede peptide toxins with reported effects on ion channels, including Nav, Kv, Cav and the nonselective cation channel polymodal transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1).
Topics: Animals; Arthropod Proteins; Arthropod Venoms; Bites and Stings; Chilopoda; Drug Discovery; Humans; Ion Channels; Membrane Transport Modulators; Protein Conformation; Signal Transduction; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 32260499
DOI: 10.3390/toxins12040230 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Mar 2011Many active principles produced by animals, plants and microorganisms have been employed in the development of new drugs to treat diseases such as cancer. Among the... (Review)
Review
Many active principles produced by animals, plants and microorganisms have been employed in the development of new drugs to treat diseases such as cancer. Among the animals that produce pharmacologically active molecules capable of interfering in human cellular physiology, the highlights are venomous arthropods, such as scorpions, bees, wasps, spiders, ants and caterpillars. The substances found in the venom of these animals present great potential as anti-tumor agents. In this review, we present the main results of years of research involving the active compounds of arthropods venoms that have anti-cancer activity.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Arthropod Venoms; Arthropods; Humans; Molecular Sequence Data; Neoplasms; Peptide Mapping
PubMed: 21236287
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.01.002 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Sep 2023In Hymenoptera venom allergy serologically double-sensitized patients, it is often difficult to identify the culprit insect for venom immunotherapy (VIT).
BACKGROUND
In Hymenoptera venom allergy serologically double-sensitized patients, it is often difficult to identify the culprit insect for venom immunotherapy (VIT).
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate if basophil activation tests (BATs) performed not only with venom extracts but additionally with single component-resolved diagnostics could differentiate between sensitized and allergic individuals and how the test results influenced the physicians' decision regarding VIT.
METHODS
BATs were performed with bee and wasp venom extracts and with single components (Api m 1, Api m 10, Ves v 1, and Ves v 5) in 31 serologically double-sensitized patients.
RESULTS
In 28 finally included individuals, 9 BATs were positive and 4 negative for both venoms. Fourteen of 28 BATs showed positive results for wasp venom alone. Two of 10 BATs positive for bee venom were only positive to Api m 1 and 1 of 28 BATs only to Api m 10, but not for whole bee venom extract. Five of 23 BATs positive for wasp venom were only positive for Ves v 5 but negative for wasp venom extract and Ves v 1. Finally, VIT with both insect venoms was recommended in 4 of 28 individuals, with wasp venom alone in 21 of 28 patients and with bee venom alone in 1 of 28. In 2 cases no VIT was recommended.
CONCLUSIONS
BATs with Ves v 5, followed by Api m 1 and Api m 10, were helpful for the decision for VIT with the clinically relevant insect in 8 of 28 (28.6%) patients. A BAT with components should therefore be additionally carried out in cases with equivocal results.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Hymenoptera; Arthropod Venoms; Allergens; Wasp Venoms; Basophil Degranulation Test; Venom Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Hypersensitivity; Bee Venoms; Insect Bites and Stings
PubMed: 37302791
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.06.007 -
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences :... Oct 2013Pest insect species are a burden to humans as they destroy crops and serve as vectors for a wide range of diseases including malaria and dengue. Chemical insecticides... (Review)
Review
Pest insect species are a burden to humans as they destroy crops and serve as vectors for a wide range of diseases including malaria and dengue. Chemical insecticides are currently the dominant approach for combating these pests. However, the de-registration of key classes of chemical insecticides due to their perceived ecological and human health risks in combination with the development of insecticide resistance in many pest insect populations has created an urgent need for improved methods of insect pest control. The venoms of arthropod predators such as spiders and scorpions are a promising source of novel insecticidal peptides that often have different modes of action to extant chemical insecticides. These peptides have been optimized via a prey-predator arms race spanning hundreds of millions of years to target specific types of insect ion channels and receptors. Here we review the current literature on insecticidal venom peptides, with a particular focus on their structural and pharmacological diversity, and discuss their potential for deployment as insecticides.
Topics: Animals; Arthropod Venoms; Humans; Insect Control; Insecta; Insecticides; Peptides
PubMed: 23525661
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-013-1315-3 -
Allergologia Et Immunopathologia 2018Component-resolved diagnosis based on the use of well-defined, properly characterised and purified natural and recombinant allergens constitutes a new approach in the... (Review)
Review
Component-resolved diagnosis based on the use of well-defined, properly characterised and purified natural and recombinant allergens constitutes a new approach in the diagnosis of venom allergy. Prospective readers may benefit from an up-to-date review on the allergens. The best characterised venom is that of Apis mellifera, whose main allergens are phospholipase A2 (Api m1), hyaluronidase (Api m2) and melittin (Api m4). Additionally, in recent years, new allergens of Vespula vulgaris have been identified and include phospholipase A1 (Ves v1), hyaluronidase (Ves v2) and antigen 5 (Ves v5). Polistes species are becoming an increasing cause of allergy in Europe, although only few allergens have been identified in this venom. In this review, we evaluate the current knowledge about molecular diagnosis in hymenoptera venom allergy.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Arthropod Venoms; Humans; Hymenoptera; Hypersensitivity; Insect Bites and Stings
PubMed: 28739022
DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2017.05.003