Evaluation of silkmoth (<i style="">Bombyx mori</i>) allergens in sericultue grainage industries as major pollutants

Abstract

Allergens from scales and cuticles of abdomen and wing of silk moth, <i style="">Bombyx mori,</i> causatives of allergic rhinitis have been subjected to solubilization with SDS (2%), urea (8<i style="">M</i>) and guanidine hydrochloride (6<i style="">M</i>). Allergens (70%) were extracted and all the solvent extracts contained an approx similar complement of allergens. Allergen composition of abdomen and wing scales differ from one another and both revealed 30-40 polypeptides, on SDS-PAGE separation, of which about 8 in each case make up the major proportion. Major allergens had molecular weights of 14000 to 65000. Proteins extracted from both scales represent a true reflection of the abdominal and wing cuticles and also minor differences were found between the proteins of segment and intersegment cuticle. The isolated allergens were used for immunological analysis. However, some structural components were found common to some of the allergens because of their good antibody cross reactivity.