Studies of Chemically Modified Honeybee Venom I.

Abstract

Allergens of honeybee venom (BV) were modified by formaldehyde treatment (F), acetoacetylation (A) or coupling to polyethylene glycol (P). The biochemical, toxicologic and immunologic properties of these modified BV preparations were analyzed. F showed strongly reduced cytotoxicity, enzymatic activity and reactivity with human BV-specific IgE antibodies but retained the reactivity to BV-specific human and rabbit IgG. In A, enzymatic activity, cytotoxicity and the reactivity with human IgE and rabbit IgG antibodies were only moderately reduced. P lacked enzymatic activity and cytotoxicity and showed only minimal reactivity with IgE and IgG antibodies to BV.

Antimicrobial Activity of Purified Toxins from Yellow Wasp <i>Polistes flavus</i> (Vespidae) against Certain Bacteria and Fungi

“…Similar results were also obtained in Egyptian yellow wasp on the growth of Aspergillus versicolor [26]. Melittin, a highly toxic and immunogenic peptide isolated from honey bee, shows an MIC value between 0.5 -0.03125 mg/ml against B-pseudomallei [27] [28]. It also exhibits powerful in vitro inhibitory activity against spirochetes [29].…”