Molecular cloning and characterization of tropomyosin, a major allergen of Chironomus kiiensis, a dominant species of nonbiting midges in Korea.

ABSTRACT: Chironomids are widely and abundantly distributed in the vicinity of standing waters. Larvae of Chironomus and some other genera are known to contain hemoglobins, which have been described as a major allergen, and the adults that have no hemoglobins also have been reported to contain allergens. In this study, we tried to establish the role of chironomid allergy and characterize the allergen of Chironomus kiiensis adults. Skin tests using C. kiiensis adult extracts were performed on patients with allergic symptoms. A cDNA library of C. kiiensis adults was screened with C. kiiensis immune mouse sera to identify allergens, and results were confirmed using skin test-positive human sera. Recombinant allergen was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography using nickel-

SUBMITTER: Jeong KY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC371210 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature