Immunogenicity of monomeric and polymeric house dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

A methodology for the preparation of a polymerized antigen from house dust mites Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus is described. Polymerization was carried out by glutaraldehyde treatment in PBS and Sephacryl S300 column fractionation. A polymer of 135 Kd was obtained. Rabbits immunized with the soluble polymer (HDMP) elaborated specific antibodies as measured by a Dot-immunobinding assay. The reaction was inhibited by previous incubation with the HDMP antigen. It is suggested that the polymerized antigen may be employed in the treatment of patients with house dust mite anaphylaxis.