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15 pages, 2704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Assessment of the Allergenicity of Hyaluronidases from Polistes dominula (Pol d 2), Vespula vulgaris (Ves v 2), and Apis mellifera Venom (Api m 2)

by Johannes Grosch, Bernadette Eberlein, Sebastian Waldherr, Mariona Pascal, Britta Dorn, Clara San Bartolomé, Federico De La Roca Pinzón, Maximilian Schiener, Ulf Darsow, Tilo Biedermann, Jonas Lidholm, Maria Beatrice Bilò, Thilo Jakob, Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber and Simon Blank

Toxins 2024, 16(11), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16110498 - 19 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1984

Abstract

Sensitization to cross-reactive allergens complicates identifying the culprit insect in Hymenoptera venom allergy via diagnostic tests. This study evaluates sensitization to hyaluronidases (Api m 2 from honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom, HBV; Pol d 2 from European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) venom, PDV; and Ves v 2.0101 and Ves v 2.0201 from yellow jacket (Vespula vulgaris) venom, YJV) and their cross-reactivity in allergic patients from Italy, Spain, and Germany using ImmunoCAPs, ELISA, and basophil activation tests. Sensitization rates were 45% for Api m 2 in HBV-allergic subjects, 25% for Pol d 2 in PDV-allergic individuals, and 20% and 10% for Ves v 2.0201 and Ves v 2.0101 in YJV-allergic patients, respectively. Patients primarily sensitized to Api m 2 showed minimal cross-reactivity to vespid hyaluronidases, whereas those primarily sensitized to Pol d 2 or Ves v 2.0201 exhibited IgE reactivity to Api m 2. Neither Pol d 2 nor Ves v 2.0201 triggered basophil activation. Cross-reactivity of Api m 2, Pol d 2, and Ves v 2.0201 depends on the primary sensitizing venom. Sensitization to Pol d 2 and Ves v 2.0201 remains below 25%, yet these patients may exhibit cross-reactivity to Api m 2. Conversely, HBV-allergic patients sensitized to Api m 2 show minimal reactivity to Pol d 2 or Ves v 2.0201. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Venoms)

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17 pages, 16012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative SEM Study of Sensilla and Tyloid Structures in the Antennae of Vespinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

by Tong Zhou, Xiaojuan Huang, Hasin Ullah, Yan Tang, Danyang Zhu, Hongli Xu, Qian Wen, Xiaoxia Tian and Jiangli Tan

Insects 2024, 15(6), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15060448 - 13 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1956

Abstract

This study investigates the distribution, morphology, and potential functions of antennal sensilla in various wasp species, including Dolichovespula flora, D. intermedia, Vespula structor, Vl. vulgaris, Provespa barthelemyi, Vespa bicolor, V. ducalis, V. mocsaryana, and V. velutina var. nigothorax. The study thoroughly analyzes the antennal structure of these species, representing all four genera of the yellow-jacket and hornet subfamily Vespinae. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the study identifies a total of nineteen types of sensilla, including sensilla trichodea (ST-I, ST-II, ST-III), sensilla campaniform (SCF-I, SCF-II, SCF-III), pit organs (SCO-I, SCO-II, and SA), sensilla placodea (SP-I, SP-II), sensilla chaetica (SCH-I, SCH-II), sensilla basiconica (SB-I, SB-II), sensilla agmon (SAG-I, SAG-II), and sensilla coelocapitular (SCA). Additionally, tyloids were observed in the males of seven species, except for Vl. structor and Vl. vulgaris. The study provides insights into these sensilla types’ morphology, abundance, and distribution. It discusses the variations in sensilla morphology among different species and the presence of gender-specific sensilla. This study provides new data about the morphology and distribution patterns of sensilla and tyloid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Hymenoptera: Biology, Taxonomy and Integrated Management)

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18 pages, 8413 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of a Push–Pull Strategy for Spotted-Wing Drosophila Management in Highbush Blueberry

by Cody C. Gale, Beth Ferguson, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Vonnie D. C. Shields and Aijun Zhang

Insects 2024, 15(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15010047 - 10 Jan 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2482

Abstract

We evaluated a novel push–pull control strategy for protecting highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum, against spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii. Methyl benzoate (MB) was used as the pushing agent and a previously tested SWD attractive blend of lure-scents was used as the pulling agent. MB dispensers (push) were hung in the canopy and lure-scent dispensers (pull) were hung in yellow jacket traps filled with soapy water around the blueberry bushes. Blueberries were sampled weekly, and any infestation was inspected by examining the breathing tubes of SWD eggs which protrude through the skin of infested fruit. The frequency of infestation, i.e., the proportion of berries infested with at least one egg, and the extent of infestation, i.e., the mean number of eggs in infested berries, were significantly reduced in treatments receiving MB dispensers as a pushing agent when infestation rates were very high. However, the mass trapping devices as a pulling agent did not provide comparable protection on their own and did not produce additive protection when used in combination with the MB dispensers in push–pull trials. We conclude that MB has the potential to be implemented as a spatial repellent/oviposition deterrent to reduce SWD damage in blueberry under field conditions and does not require the SWD attractant as a pulling agent to achieve crop protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Insect Pest and Vector Management)

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8 pages, 2981 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Postmortem Biochemistry and Immunohistochemistry in Anaphylactic Death Due to Hymenoptera Sting: A Forensic Case Report

by Cristina Mondello, Gennaro Baldino, Vincenzo Cianci, Elena Forzese, Alessio Asmundo, Antonio Ieni and Elvira Ventura Spagnolo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(9), 5640; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095640 - 25 Apr 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2809

Abstract

Background: Postmortem assessment of anaphylactic death is a challenge for forensic pathologists. One of the most frequent elicitors of anaphylaxis is insect venom. Here, a case of anaphylactic death due to Hymenoptera stings is reported to highlight the contribution of postmortem biochemistry and immunohistochemistry in assessing the cause of death. Case report: A 59-year-old Caucasian man working on his farm was presumably stung by a bee and died. He had a history of previous sensitization to insect venom. The autopsy revealed no signs of insect puncture, mild edema of the larynx, and foamy edema in the bronchial tree and lungs. Routine histology showed endo-alveolar edema and hemorrhage, bronchospasm, and scattered bronchial obstruction due to mucus hyperproduction. Biochemical analysis was performed, and serum tryptase was equal to 189 µg/L, total IgE was 200 kU/L, and specific IgE dosage was positive for bee and yellow jacket species. Immunohistochemistry for tryptase detection was carried out, revealing mast cells and degranulated tryptase expression in the larynx, lungs, spleen, and heart. These findings led to the diagnosis of anaphylactic death due to Hymenoptera stings. Conclusions: The case highlights that the role of biochemistry and immunohistochemistry in the postmortem assessment of anaphylactic reactions should be stressed by forensic practitioners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Allergic Diseases in Adulthood: Burden, Mechanisms and Risk Factors)

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15 pages, 2094 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shedding Light on the Venom Proteomes of the Allergy-Relevant Hymenoptera Polistes dominula (European Paper Wasp) and Vespula spp. (Yellow Jacket)

by Johannes Grosch, Christiane Hilger, Maria Beatrice Bilò, Stephanie Kler, Maximilian Schiener, Gunnar Dittmar, François Bernardin, Antoine Lesur, Markus Ollert, Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber and Simon Blank

Toxins 2020, 12(5), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12050323 - 14 May 2020

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5269

Abstract

Allergic reactions to stings of Hymenoptera species can have serious or even fatal consequences. If the identification of the culprit insect is possible, venom-specific immunotherapy effectively cures Hymenoptera venom allergies. Although component-resolved diagnostics has strongly evolved in recent years, the differentiation between allergies to closely related species such as Polistes dominula and Vespula spp. is still challenging. In order to generate the basis for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, this study aims at resolving the venom proteomes (venomes) of these species. The venoms of P. dominula and Vespula spp. (V. germanica, V. vulgaris) were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Resulting proteins were characterized regarding their function, localization and biochemical properties. The analyses yielded 157 proteins in Vespula spp. and 100 in P. dominula venom; 48 proteins, including annotated allergens, were found in both samples. In addition to a variety of venom trace molecules, new allergen candidates such as icarapin-like protein and phospholipase A2 were identified. This study elucidates the venomes of closely related allergy-eliciting Hymenoptera species. The data indicates that relying on marker allergens to differentiate between P. dominula and Vespula spp. venom allergy is probably insufficient and that strategies using cross-reactive major allergens could be more promising. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Animal Venoms)

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