Protein components of fire ant venom ( Solenopsis invicta)
Abstract
H. Baer, T.-Y. Liu, M. C. Anderson, M. Blum, W. H. Schmid and F. J. James. Protein components of fire ant venom ( Solenopsis invicta), Toxicon 17, 397–405, 1979.—Venom of the fire ant ( Solenopsis invicta), long thought to contain only alkaloids, is shown to contain proteins, which undoubtedly accounts for the induction of anaphylactic reactions from stings. Failure of previous investigators to identify proteins in this venom is probably due to the low protein content of approximately 0·1% of the venom weight. In common with other hymenoptera venoms, it contains phospholipase and hyaluronidase activity. Sephadex chromatography showed the presence of at least 3 proteins which were allergenically active, as determined by RAST using sera of individuals allergic to fire ant sting. The RAST also indicated that S. invicta venom was different from the venoms of S. richteri, S. xyloni and S. geminata, but probably shows extensive cross-reactivity. Commercially prepared extracts were shown to contain venom by RAST.
- Publication:
-
Toxicon
- Pub Date:
- January 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0041-0101(79)90267-8
- Bibcode:
- 1979Txcn...17..397B