IgE recognition of indoor allergens represents a major cause of allergic asthma in atopic individuals. We found that 52 of 102 patients suffering from allergic symptoms indoors contained IgE Abs against allergens from the Indianmeal moth (Plodia interpunctella), a ubiquitous food pest. Using serum IgE from a moth-sensitized patient we screened an expression cDNA library constructed from P. interpunctella larvae. cDNAs coding for arginine kinase (EC 2.7.3.3), a 40-kDa enzyme commonly occurring in invertebrates that is involved in the storage of such high-energy phosphate bonds as phosphoarginine, were isolated. Recombinant moth arginine kinase, designated Plo i 1, was expressed in Escherichia coli as a histidine-tagged protein with enzymatic activity, and purified to homogeneity by nickel chelate affinity chromatography. Purified recombinant arginine kinase induced specific basophil histamine release and immediate as well as late-phase skin reactions. It reacted with serum IgE from 13 of the 52 (25%) moth-allergic patients and inhibited the binding of allergic patients’ IgE to an immunologically related 40-kDa allergen present in house dust mite, cockroach, king prawn, lobster, and mussel. Our results indicate that arginine kinases represent a new class of cross-reactive invertebrate pan-allergens. Recombinant arginine kinase may be used to identify a group of polysensitized indoor allergic patients and for immunotherapy of these individuals.

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The application of macroorganisms for the biological control of stored product pests in Germany is reviewed. In bakeries and mills, the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella is the major pest moth. The egg parasitoid Trichogramma evanescens and the larval parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor [Bracon hebetor] are released 12 months. In the food processing industry, the wholesale trade and the retail trade, the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella is the major pest moth. Due to the diapause of this species, the same parasitoids are released for eight months. Empty rooms were treated to control residual populations. Additional information on control actions in herb stores, seed storage and private households is given. The cost of biological control is estimated.

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