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 Dermatophagoides1. 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 reactions2. Although mites may occasionally become airborne during bed-making3, it has also been demonstrated that they ‘secrete or excrete’ some allergen1. 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)4. 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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Voorhorst, R., Spieksma Boezeman, M. I. A. & Spieksma, F. Th. M. Allergic Asthma. 10, 329–334 (1964).
Morrison-Smith, J., Disney, M. E., Williams, J. P. & Goels, Z. A. Br. med. J. ii, 723–726 (1969).
Cunnington, A. M. & Gregory, P. H. Nature. 217, 1271–1272 (1968).
Chapman, M. D. & Platts-Mills, T. A. E. J. Immun. 125, 587–592 (1980).
Marsh, D. G. in The Antigens. Vol. 3 (ed. Sela, M.) 271–350 (Academic, New York, 1975).
Tovey, E. R., Chapman, M. D. & Platts-Mills, T. A. E. (in preparation).
Harper, G. J. & Morton, J. D. J. Hyg., Camb. 51, 374–385 (1953).
Austen, F. K. & Orange, R. P. Am. Rev. resp. Dis. 112, 423–436 (1975).
Brody, A. R., McGarth, J. C. & Wharton, G. W. N. Y. ent. Soc. 80, 152–177 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tovey, E., Chapman, M. & Platts-Mills, T. Mite faeces are a major source of house dust allergens. Nature 289, 592–593 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/289592a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/289592a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Structure/epitope analysis and IgE binding activities of three cyclophilin family proteins from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Scientific Reports (2023)
-
Environmental Factors and Their Impact on Airway Diseases: Exploring Air Pollution, Indoor and Outdoor Allergens, and Climate Change
Current Pulmonology Reports (2023)
-
Microbial Communities of Stored Product Mites: Variation by Species and Population
Microbial Ecology (2021)
-
Clinical significance of dust mite allergens
Molecular Biology Reports (2020)
-
Update on House Dust Mite Allergen Avoidance Measures for Asthma
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports (2020)