Polymerization and fractionation of house dust mite allergen.

Glutaraldehyde polymerization and appropriate fractionation of allergens result in significantly decreased allergenicity with retained immunogenicity. In a manner similar to that employed with other allergens, we have prepared monomer dust mite (MDM) and polymerized dust mite (PDM). As with other polymerized allergens such as polymerized ragweed, PDM is more than 2 logs less allergenic than MDM as determined by cutaneous end point titration in sensitive patients. Moreover, PDM and MDM are similarly immunogenic in rabbits. As determined by inhibition studies (with rabbit antisera) PDM is antigenically complete and contains no new epitopes against which antibody was produced. In summary, we have prepared PDM which has the desired characteristics of reduced allergenicity, retained immunogenicity, antigenic completeness, and absence of new antigenic determinants.