Zhikang Peng1, F Estelle R Simons. 1. Department of Pediatrics and Child Health and Department of Immunology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. zpeng@ms.umanitoba.ca
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Allergic reactions, including severe local and systemic reactions to mosquito bites, are immunological in nature, and involve immunoglobulin E, immunoglobulin G, and T-lymphocyte-mediated hypersensitivities in response to allergens in mosquito saliva. Naturally acquired desensitization to mosquito saliva may occur during childhood or during long-term exposure to mosquitoes. Due to the lack of availability of mosquito salivary preparations for use in skin tests and in-vitro tests, allergic reactions to mosquito bites are under diagnosed and under treated. RECENT FINDINGS: Recombinant saliva allergens with biological activity are being developed. Recombinant Aedes aegypti salivary allergen rAed a 2 has been expressed, purified, characterized and used in in-vitro diagnosis of mosquito allergy. Mosquito saliva-induced non-immunoglobulin E-mediated skin mast cell degranulation was found to induce macrophage-inflammatory protein 2 in the skin and interleukin-10 in draining lymph nodes. SUMMARY: In this review, we discuss the allergic reactions to mosquito salivary allergens, the immune mechanisms involved, natural desensitization and immunotherapy with mosquito extracts, characteristics of salivary allergens and their recombinant forms, and prevention and treatment of allergic reactions to mosquito bites. Eventually, recombinant salivary allergens will significantly improve the diagnosis of mosquito allergy, and will also improve specific immunotherapy for patients with systemic reactions to mosquito bites.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Allergic reactions, including severe local and systemic reactions to mosquito bites, are immunological in nature, and involve immunoglobulin E, immunoglobulin G, and T-lymphocyte-mediated hypersensitivities in response to allergens in mosquito saliva. Naturally acquired desensitization to mosquito saliva may occur during childhood or during long-term exposure to mosquitoes. Due to the lack of availability of mosquito salivary preparations for use in skin tests and in-vitro tests, allergic reactions to mosquito bites are under diagnosed and under treated. RECENT FINDINGS: Recombinant saliva allergens with biological activity are being developed. Recombinant Aedes aegypti salivary allergen rAed a 2 has been expressed, purified, characterized and used in in-vitro diagnosis of mosquito allergy. Mosquito saliva-induced non-immunoglobulin E-mediated skin mast cell degranulation was found to induce macrophage-inflammatory protein 2 in the skin and interleukin-10 in draining lymph nodes. SUMMARY: In this review, we discuss the allergic reactions to mosquito salivary allergens, the immune mechanisms involved, natural desensitization and immunotherapy with mosquito extracts, characteristics of salivary allergens and their recombinant forms, and prevention and treatment of allergic reactions to mosquito bites. Eventually, recombinant salivary allergens will significantly improve the diagnosis of mosquito allergy, and will also improve specific immunotherapy for patients with systemic reactions to mosquito bites.
Authors: Daniel M Chisenhall; Berlin L Londono; Rebecca C Christofferson; Michael K McCracken; Christopher N Mores Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2014-01-20 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Z Peng; W W Xu; Y Sham; H Lam; D Sun; L Cheng; N F Rasic; Q Guan; A A James; F E R Simons Journal: Allergy Date: 2016-03-06 Impact factor: 13.146
Authors: Will Stone; Teun Bousema; Sophie Jones; Samwel Gesase; Rhamadhan Hashim; Roly Gosling; Ilona Carneiro; Daniel Chandramohan; Thor Theander; Raffaele Ronca; David Modiano; Bruno Arcà; Chris Drakeley Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-06-29 Impact factor: 3.240