Analyses of some mite antigens found in house dust and in food material.

Antigen analyses by micro-Ouchterlony, immunoelectrophoresis and passive hemagglutination tests were carried out on extracts from each of the following cultured mites: Dermatophogoides farinae, Dermatophogoides pteronyssinus, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Aleuroglyphus ovatus and Carpoglyphus lactis; and on an extract from the culture medium for each mite. Antisera were raised against each extract or each medium in rabbits or in guinea pigs. Up to 5 precipitin lines by micro-Ouchterlony test and up to 8 precipitin arcs by immunoelectrophoresis were detected between an extract and its homologous (corresponding) antiserum. Some of the lines or arcs were seen consistently to be common to all species tested. The absorption of common antigens in an extract by heterologous (noncorresponding) antiserum was employed to find the antigens specific to D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus. By these tests, at least 3 species-specific antigens for D. farinae and 2 for D. pteronyssinus were found. In passive hemagglutination tests, higher titers were obtained mainly in homologous systems, although weak cross reaction was observed in every system. Culture media did not participate in any reaction combinations used here and did not interfere with the analyses.