Comparison of buffers for extraction of mite allergen der p 1 from dust

Abstract

Der p 1 is the main allergen of house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, which has routinely been detected in residential dust. However, the procedure for extracting Der p 1 from reservoir dust has not been well defi ned. The aim of this study was to compare Der p 1 mass fractions in dust extracts prepared using the following extraction buffers: phosphate (pH 7.4), borate (pH 8.0), and ammonium bicarbonate (pH 8.0), all with 0.05 % Tween 20. Twenty-eight dust samples were divided into three aliquots and each portion was extracted with one of the three buffers at room temperature. Der p 1 mass fractions were measured in a total of 84 dust extracts using the enzyme immunoassay (range: 0.1 μg g -1 to 7.53 μg g -1). Statistical methods including intraclass correlation showed a high agreement between Der p 1 mass fractions irrespective of the extracting medium. Our results suggest that all three buffers are suitable for the extraction of mite allergens and routine Der p 1 analysis in dust.

Extraction Of House Dust Mite Allergen, Der P1, From Dust

“…A recent article in this journal found that the type of extraction buffer did not affect measured levels of the major group one allergen (Der p 1) from the house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, in household dust samples (1). This differed from a previous study where about twice the levels of Der p 1 were found in borate-buffered saline extracts, compared to ammonium bicarbonate buffer or phosphate-buffered saline extracts, irrespective of extraction temperature or time of extraction (2).…”