University of Veterinary Science

education📍 Pyinmana, Myanmar
3
Alpha-gal Syndrome Publications
0
Alpha-gal Syndrome Researchers

Publications

Characterization of the anti-α-Gal antibody profile in association with Guillain-Barré syndrome, implications for tick-related allergic reactions.

Pacheco I, Fernández de Mera IG, Feo Brito F, Gómez Torrijos E, Villar M, et al.
Ticks and tick-borne diseases •

Humans evolved by losing the capacity to synthesize the glycan Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal), which resulted in the capacity to develop a protective response mediated by anti-α-Gal IgM/IgG antibodies against pathogens containing this modification on membrane proteins. As an evolutionary trade-off, humans can develop the alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS), a recently diagnosed disease mainly associated with allergic reactions to mammalian meat consumption. The etiology of the AGS is the exposure to tick bites and the IgE antibody response against α-Gal-containing glycoproteins and glycolipids. The objective of this study was to characterize the anti-α-Gal antibody response in association with the immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), and compare it with different factors known to modulate the antibody response to α-Gal such as exposure to tick bites and development of allergic reactions in response to tick bites. The results showed a significant decrease in the IgM/IgG response to α-Gal in GBS patients when compared to healthy individuals. In contrast, the IgM/IgG levels to α-Gal did not change in patients with allergic reactions to tick bites. The IgE response was not affected in GBS patients, but as expected, the IgE levels significantly increased in individuals exposed to tick bites and patients with tick-associated allergies. These results suggest that the immune pathways of anti-α-Gal IgM/IgG and IgE production are independent. Further studies should consider the susceptibility to allergic reactions to tick bites in GBS patients.

Clinical gamasoidosis and antibody response in two patients infested with Ornithonyssus bursa (Acari: Gamasida: Macronyssidae).

Lima-Barbero JF, Sánchez MS, Cabezas-Cruz A, Mateos-Hernández L, Contreras M, et al.
Experimental & applied acarology •

Blood-feeding ectoparasites constitute a growing burden for human and animal health, and animal production worldwide. In particular, mites (Acari: Gamasida) of the genera Dermanyssus (Dermanyssidae) and Ornithonyssus (Macronyssidae) infest birds and cause gamasoidosis in humans. The tropical fowl mite, Ornithonyssus bursa, is commonly found in tropical and subtropical countries but rarely reported in Europe. In this research we characterized the first two cases in Spain of clinical gamasoidosis diagnosed in patients infested with O. bursa, and investigated the IgE, IgM and IgG antibody response to mite proteins and the carbohydrate Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal) involved in the tick-bite associated alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS). The results suggested that O. bursa is establishing across Mediterranean countries, and may increase the risk for gamasoidosis. The immune antibody response to mite proteins was higher for IgM and similar for IgE and IgG antibodies between patients and non-allergic control individuals exposed to mite or tick bites. The anti-α-Gal antibody levels were similar between patients and controls, a result supported by the absence of this carbohydrate in mites. These results suggested that mite bites do not correlate with antibody response to acarine proteins or α-Gal, and are not associated with the AGS.

Salivary Prostaglandin E2: Role in Tick-Induced Allergy to Red Meat.

Cabezas-Cruz A, Mateos-Hernández L, Chmelař J, Villar M, de la Fuente J
Trends in parasitology •

Tick-induced allergy to red meat is associated with anti-α-Gal IgE antibody levels. We propose that tick salivary prostaglandin E2 triggers antibody class switching in mature B cells, increasing the levels of anti-α-Gal IgE antibodies. Immune tolerance to α-Gal in blood type B individuals might reduce the risk to this allergy.