Prevalence and Seroconversion of IgE to the Mammalian Oligosaccharide Galactose-Alpha 1, 3-Galactose and Relationship to Comorbid Disease in Military Personnel
Abstract
The oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-Gal) is a blood group-like antigen of non-primate mammals and is the causal epitope in an IgE-mediated allergic disorder called the alpha-Gal syndrome. Ingestion of red meat and other products derived from mammals (e.g., dairy) can lead to allergic manifestations including hives, swelling, abdominal cramping, and anaphylaxis with a characteristic delay of 3-6 hours in subjects who are sensitized to alpha-Gal. An additional feature that distinguishes alpha-Gal syndrome from traditional food allergies is that sensitization to alpha-Gal is caused by tick bites, specifically bites of Amblyomma americanum (the lone star tick) in the United States. This study's purpose is to utilize the Department of Defense Serum Repository to investigate the prevalence and incident seroconversion of alpha-Gal specific IgE, the blood marker for alpha-Gal syndrome, in banked serum from active military personnel who were stationed at installations where the lone star tick is common (i.e., select bases in the Southeast and coastal Atlantic). Additionally, we will relate these findings with the clinical record of the service members over a ten-year time window to determine whether IgE to alpha-Gal is associated with reported allergic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular symptoms of disease and other medical conditions. All regulatory approvals have been obtained and the study is awaiting shipping of serum samples from the DoD Serum Repository to University of Virginia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1153673
Entities
People
- Cade Nylund
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences