Immunoglobulins Specific to Mosquito Salivary Gland Proteins in the Sera of Persons with Common or Hypersensitive Reactions to Mosquito Bites

Abstract

Using the immunoblot technique, we analyzed the quality and quantity of IgG, IgG4, and IgE specific to mosquito salivary gland (hereafter abbreviate as SG) components of Aedes albopictus in the sera of volunteers with common reactions and of 3 patients with severe reactions. In the volunteers with delayed reactions only or with both delayed and immediate reactions, IgG against SG components of A. albopictus formed several faint or moderately stained bands. Those with immediate reactions showed several intense bands and many other weak bands. In volunteers, who had been bitten by Aedes sp. frequently but had no skin reaction, and in severe cases, many intense IgG bands were observed. IgG4 bound to SG components were found in the sera of the common reaction group at the levels of 24 and 48 kD, but, in one severe case, no bands were observed, although the total IgG was very high. IgE levels specific to SG components were much higher in severe cases than in the volunteers. These results indicate that high titers of specific IgG and IgE and lack of IgG4 for particular components of SG may lead to severe allergic reactions in severe cases. Immunoblotting analysis of the antibodies also verified the possibility of developing in vitro tests to identify causative species of the mosquito for severe cases.

Human anti‐saliva immune response following experimental exposure to the visceral leishmaniasis vector, Lutzomyia longipalpis

“…Prior studies investigating host humoral responses against ectoparasite saliva has revealed an important role for IgG, with major contribution of isotype IgG1, IgM, and IgE [4,[37][38][39][40]. Our group has also investigated humoral response against sand fly saliva in a murine model [25], and in children living on an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis [18].…”

Characterization of the Antibody Response to the Saliva of Phlebotomus papatasi in People Living in Endemic Areas of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

“…18,19 They may indicate a classic type I hypersensitivity 20 and are often associated with IgG4 antibodies. 18 To test whether the presence of IgG4 antibodies against P. papatasi saliva antibodies was related or not to an allergic reaction to the saliva, the production of IgE antibodies against P. papatasi saliva was investigated and the correlation between IgE and IgG4 antibodies analyzed.…”

Saliva from Lutzomyia longipalpis Induces CC Chemokine Ligand 2/Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Expression and Macrophage Recruitment

“…Understanding mammalian response to insect saliva is of utmost importance in several ways. Besides being related to allergy (1,2), insect saliva is known to facilitate parasite survival (3)(4)(5). In mice, saliva from Lutzomyia longipalpis or Phlebotomus papatasi leads to larger Leishmania major-associated lesions than those resulting from the parasite alone (6).…”