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Hymenoptera Venoms: Toxicity, Components, Stability, and Standardization

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Stinging Insect Allergy

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Abstract

Bees, wasps, and ants possess predatory and/or defensive venoms that contain many toxic compounds. Diverse life cycles of this enormous group of insects implicate a large variability in venom compositions. Several venom compounds have been reported to cause an allergic reaction in humans, suggesting that a good knowledge of the composition of venoms and the structure of allergens is a prerequisite for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of insect venom allergy. A large group of proteins and peptides that is even more complex due to protein heterogeneity and posttranslational modifications represents a huge source of structurally diverse and biologically active toxins with high potency and selectivity for a wide range of targets. Due to the presence of similar protein allergens in multiple Hymenoptera venoms, cross-reactivity occurs between venoms from different species. Concerning the treatment of allergy caused by stinging insects, obtaining highly standardized allergens is crucial in allergy diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Ellen L. Danneels Ph.D., Matthias Van Vaerenbergh Ph.D. & Dirk C. de Graaf Ph.D.

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  1. Ellen L. Danneels Ph.D.
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  2. Matthias Van Vaerenbergh Ph.D.
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  3. Dirk C. de Graaf Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Ellen L. Danneels Ph.D. .

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  1. San Antonio Allergy and Asthma Clinic, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Theodore M. Freeman

  2. Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates P.C., Omaha, Nebraska, USA

    James M. Tracy

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Danneels, E.L., Van Vaerenbergh, M., de Graaf, D.C. (2017). Hymenoptera Venoms: Toxicity, Components, Stability, and Standardization. In: Freeman, T., Tracy, J. (eds) Stinging Insect Allergy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46192-2_3

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