# IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF INSECT VENOM ALLERGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY · 1991 · $184,444

## Abstract

The most common type of insect sting allergy is caused by honey
bees followed by vespids which include hornets, yellowjackets and
wasps.  The venom allergens of honey bees are proteins of known
structures and those of vespids are of unknown structures.  One
aspect of the proposed work is to elucidate the primary structures
of two families of homologous venom allergens of vespids, antigen
5s and phospholipases A1.  Their primary structures will be
determined by cDNA and protein sequencings.  Having the
structures of a family of homologous proteins can facilitate the
structure-function analysis of a molecule.  The structural data
will help to clarify the common clinical observation of multiple
sensitivity of vespid allergic patients which can be due to multiple
exposure and/or cross reactivity of vespid venoms.

Another aspect of the proposed work is to delineate the T and B
cell-specific antigenic sites of bee and vespid venom proteins.
Various fragments of venom proteins will be tested for their
affinity of venom-specific antibodies and for their capacity to
stimulate or suppress venom-specific antibody responses in mice.
The venom fragments will be prepared by chemical degradation of
venom proteins and/or by peptide synthesis.  Alternatively they
may be prepared biosynthetically after appropriate modification
of venom-encoding cDNAs.  The findings may lead to the design
and development of vaccines for treatment of insect allergy.  The
findings can also contribute to our knowledge whether or not the
same epitopes of a protein are involved in the recognition by
different B cells and helper or suppressor T cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126955
- **Project number:** 5R01AI017021-12
- **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:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $184,444
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-09-01 → 1993-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126955

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126955, IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF INSECT VENOM ALLERGENS (5R01AI017021-12). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126955. Licensed CC0.

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