# IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF INSECT VENOM ALLERGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $184,890

## Abstract

Insect sting allergy to bees and vespids (hornets, yellowjackets & wasps)
is common for a segment of our population.  Allergic people vary in their
antibody response to the different protein allergens in each venom.  One
aspect of the proposed research is to purify the venom proteins of
different vespids so that their immunochemical properties can be studied.
On the basis of the work which we have done, the purified proteins of
different vespids can be more reliable reagents than the whole venoms are
for unambiguous diagnosis of patients' sensitivity to vespids.  This is of
medical importance for proper immunotherapy of patients with the
appropriate vespid venom(s).  The purified venom proteins are also useful
reagents for following the heterogeneity of antibody responses in patients
on venom therapy.  This may lead to a better understanding of the
immunologic mechanism for successful venom immunotherapy.  Another aspect
of the proposed research is to delineate the antigenic determinants of two
venom protein allergens of honey been venom, phospholipase A2 and
melittin.  The experimental approach is to use mouse monoclonal antibodies
specific for these allergens as reagents for the detection and purification
of antigenically active peptide fragments of these two proteins.  Since
antigenically active peptides may be of the approximate size of a
hexapeptide, their sequences can be readily determined.  This approach is
in principle applicable to any protein without prior knowledge of its
complete sequence.  Therefore this approach, if proven feasible, should
find wide applicability for studies of a variety of protein antigens of
interest in the fields of allergy and infectious diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126952
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017021-08
- **Recipient organization:** ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LHGDNJMZ64Y1
- **Principal Investigator:** TE PIAO KING
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $184,890
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-09-01 → 1988-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126952

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126952, IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF INSECT VENOM ALLERGENS (5R01AI017021-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126952. Licensed CC0.

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