Standardization of allergens. Qualitative definition of house dust mite extracts following electroblotting and detection of components with antibody and lectin probes.

Components of an extract of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus were electrophoretically separated, transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, and then probed with a variety of antibodies and lectins. Using mite-allergic human sera as the first antibody source, IgE-binding components were identified. Binding patterns by monoclonal and heterologous sera were also obtained. The method is suitable for the qualitative, and ultimately the quantitative, characterization of allergen extracts. The electroblotting procedure employing specific probes, therefore, promises to be a valuable aid for allergen standardization.