The acari hypothesis, ii: Interspecies operability of pattern recognition receptors

Andrew C. Retzinger*, Gregory S. Retzinger

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hypersensitivity to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) is an informative example of a pathologic IgE-mediated process. By way of their saliva, ticks are able to sensitize humans to tick dietary elements that express α-gal. Mites, which along with ticks constitute the phyletic subclass Acari, feed on proteinaceous foodstuffs that represent most, if not all, human allergens. Given: (1) the gross nature of the pathophysiological reactions of allergy, especially anaphylaxis, (2) the allergenicity of acarian foodstuffs, and (3) the relatedness of ticks and mites, it has been hypothesized that human-acarian interactions are cardinal to the pathogenesis of allergy. In this report, a means by which such interactions contribute to that pathogenesis is proposed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1220
JournalPathogens
Volume10
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2021

Keywords

  • Acari hypothesis
  • Fibrinogen-related protein (FReP)
  • IgE
  • Interspecies operability
  • Ixoderin
  • Mites
  • Ticks
  • Vector

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology and Allergy

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