Longitudinal studies have shown that continued exposure to the allergen after a patient has developed occupational asthma can lead to airway obstruction and hyperresponsiveness that persists for months or years after exposure ceases. There is good reason to think that continued exposure to allergens in the home or outdoors might have similar, adverse long term consequences. Techniques for quantitative air sampling, particle sizing, and immunochemical assay of amorphous allergens now exist. In previous grant periods we have refined air sampling strategies and equipment, as well as assay methods. We have measured aeroallergens in the work place in several occurrences of occupational allergy, in the outdoor air (Alternaria and moth) and in indoor air in dwellings. Unexpected results for outdoor aeroallergens were that both ragweed and oak pollen allergens occur in substantial amounts outside the pollenation period, and that even during flowering, up to half of the allergen is associated with particles smaller than pollen grains. We find allergen in other plant parts such as flowers, leaves and stems. Also, we find easily measurable quantities of moth allergen in the summer and fall. Indoors, we find not only house dust mite and cat but in Harlem tenements, substantial amounts of cockroach and mouse urinary protein. A newly built, tight, energy-efficient house had very much higher cat and mite allergen concentration in the air than older, conventional houses. In studies of high efficiency filters in this home, in Harlem tenements and in rat animal quarters, it appears that allergen production rate is more important than filtration in determining the allergen level in the air. We now propose studies with 5 aims: 1) to determine the relationship between ventilation and air permeation and the concentration of house dust mite and cat allergen in the air of approximately 1,000 dwelling in 5 cities; 2) to determine the effects of housekeeping activities on the concentration and particle size of mite and cat allergen in the home; 3) to determine whether outdoor insect aeroallergens cause asthma in patients with IgE antibody to insects in Portland, OR; 4) to determine whether the insect pollinated plants, dandelion and alfalfa, shed allergen into the air from other plants parts, as ragweed and oak do; and 5) to continue to refine and simplify the air sampling and assay procedures so they can become generally available to the practicing allergist.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI021255-06
Application #
3131200
Study Section
Immunological Sciences Study Section (IMS)
Project Start
1984-07-01
Project End
1992-06-30
Budget Start
1989-07-01
Budget End
1990-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Rochester
State
MN
Country
United States
Zip Code
55905
Hunt, L W; Fransway, A F; Reed, C E et al. (1995) An epidemic of occupational allergy to latex involving health care workers. J Occup Environ Med 37:1204-9
Swanson, M C; Bubak, M E; Hunt, L W et al. (1994) Quantification of occupational latex aeroallergens in a medical center. J Allergy Clin Immunol 94:445-51
Swanson, M C; Boiano, J M; Galson, S K et al. (1992) Immunochemical quantification and particle size distribution of airborne papain in a meat portioning facility. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 53:1-5
Bubak, M E; Reed, C E; Fransway, A F et al. (1992) Allergic reactions to latex among health-care workers. Mayo Clin Proc 67:1075-9
Swanson, M C; Li, J T; Wentz-Murtha, P E et al. (1991) Source of the aeroallergen of soybean dust: a low molecular mass glycopeptide from the soybean tela. J Allergy Clin Immunol 87:783-8
Swanson, M C; Campbell, A R; O'Hollaren, M T et al. (1990) Role of ventilation, air filtration, and allergen production rate in determining concentrations of rat allergens in the air of animal quarters. Am Rev Respir Dis 141:1578-81
Rodrigo, M J; Morell, F; Helm, R M et al. (1990) Identification and partial characterization of the soybean-dust allergens involved in the Barcelona asthma epidemic. J Allergy Clin Immunol 85:778-84
Swanson, M C; Campbell, A R; Klauck, M J et al. (1989) Correlations between levels of mite and cat allergens in settled and airborne dust. J Allergy Clin Immunol 83:776-83
Campbell, A R; Swanson, M C; Fernandez-Caldas, E et al. (1989) Aeroallergens in dairy barns near Cooperstown, New York and Rochester, Minnesota. Am Rev Respir Dis 140:317-20
Wynn, S R; Swanson, M C; Reed, C E et al. (1988) Immunochemical quantitation, size distribution, and cross-reactivity of lepidoptera (moth) aeroallergens in southeastern Minnesota. J Allergy Clin Immunol 82:47-54

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