Identification of important allergens in German cockroach extracts by sodium dodecylsulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis

Abstract Background: Despite recent advances in the purification and characterization of cockroach allergens, identification of clinically important allergens and their source have not been completely elucidated. This study investigated the allergen content of German cockroach ( Blattella germanica ) whole body (GWBE) and fecal (GFE) extracts. Methods: Sera from 37 subjects with asthma, with positive skin test results to cockroach, were used for RAST and Western blot (after sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] under reducing conditions); this serum panel is the largest used to date for cockroach allergen analysis. Results: RAST reactivity to GWBE and GFE were highly correlated ( r = 0.882, p Conclusions: In summary, this investigation identified German cockroach allergens, established their relative importance by prevalence of reactivity to a large serum panel, and demonstrated that cockroach feces possess significant allergenic activity. Five allergens identified demonstrated reactivity with up to 50% to 80% of the 37 subjects' sera tested. (J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL 1995;95:877-85.)