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Dust mite allergens are carried on not only large particles.
Custovic A, Woodcock H, Craven M, Hassall R, Hadley E, Simpson A, Woodcock A
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 1999;10( 4):258-60.
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Abstract
The major obstacle for the successful measurement of airborne mite allergen is its very low concentration in the absence of vigorous disturbance.The aim of this study was to investigate the particle size distribution ofgroup 2 dust mite allergen using an amplified ELISA system. Air samplingwas performed using an Andersen sampler placed in the centre of the room,1.2 m above floor level (airflow rate 28.7 l/min). This is a multistage,multiorifice cascade impactor that is comprised of six stages. Anyparticle greater that 4.7 microm should impact on stages 1 and 2, whilststages 3-6 measure the predominantly respiratory range. The sampling wascarried out for 30 min after 15 min of vigorous disturbance (vacuumcleaning without bag and filter). Der p 2 was measured using mAb-basedELISA with the AmpliQ amplification kit (Dako Ltd, Cambridgeshire, UK).The sensitivity was increased 15-fold as compared with standard assay,bringing the level of detection to 300 pg/ml. The majority of airborne Derp 2 (79.4%) was carried on large particles (> 4.7 microm). However, asmall but important proportion of airborne Der p 2 (20.6%) was associatedwith small particles (1.1-4.7 microm). It is worth noting that all thelevels measured were below the detection limit of standard assay. Inconclusion, we have shown that using an amplification system, airbornemite allergen previously undetectable owing to its low concentration canbe quantified. Group 2 dust mite allergen is carried not only on largeparticles. A small, but potentially significant proportion of thisairborne allergen is associated with small particles which, when inhaled,may penetrate deep into the human respiratory tract.
Keyword(s)
Animals; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Dogs; Humans; Particle Size; adverse effects: Dust; analysis: Allergens; analysis: Glycoproteins; etiology: Asthma; immunology: Mites