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THE FUNGAL BIOPESTICIDE METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE HAS AN ADJUVANT EFFECT ON THE ALLERGIC RESPONSE TO OVALBUMIN IN MICE
Citation:
Instanes, C., MDW Ward, AND G. Hetland. THE FUNGAL BIOPESTICIDE METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE HAS AN ADJUVANT EFFECT ON THE ALLERGIC RESPONSE TO OVALBUMIN IN MICE. TOXICOLOGY LETTERS. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 161:219-225, (2006).
Impact/Purpose:
To examine the adjuvant activity of M. anisopliae on the allergic response to the model allergen ovalbumin in a mouse model
Description:
Background: Sensitisation to cockroaches is associated with asthma and hence, the elimination of this vermin is of interest. Metarhizium anisopliae is a parasitic fungus used as a pesticide to control cockroach infestation indoors. Previously M. anisopliae has been shown to cause allergic- and asthma-like responses in mice. We have examined the adjuvant activity of M. anisopliae on the allergic response to the model allergen ovalbumin (OVA) in a mouse model. Methods: On day 0, mice were primed by injection with M. anisopliae mycelium + OVA, M. anisopliae crude antigen (MACA) + OVA, mycelium, MACA or OVA in the right hind footpad. MACA consists of M. anisopliae mycelium, conidia and inducible enzymes extracts combined in in equal protein concentrations. On day 21 all mice were injected with OVA and then terminated on day 26. ELISAs were used to measure levels of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in serum. In addition, weight and cell numbers of the excised popliteal lymph node (PLN) were determined. Results: Mice primed with mycelium + OVA had increased anti-OVA IgE and IgG1 levels compared with mice primed with OVA alone or mycelium. Mice primed with mycelium or mycelium + OVA had increased anti-OVA IgG2a levels in serum compared with mice primed with OVA alone. Priming with M. anisopliae as either mycelium or MACA, increased weight or cell number of the excised PLNs. Conclusions: M. anisopliae has the ability to adjuvate an allergic response to a model allergen. Consequently, M. anisopliae may worsen allergy in susceptible individuals.