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Imported fire ant sensitivity
368
Reviews LEBLANC, P. and LiEvREMONT, M. (Institut de Biochemie, Université de Paris-Sud Centre, d'Orsay and Laboratorie de Physiologie Biochemique, Ecole Normale Supériosure de l'Enseignement Technique, Cacaan). Some actions of purified toxins from BwWarusfasciatus venom on isolated pig-heart mitochondria . Eur. J. Biochem. 60, 541 (1975) .
THE THREE neurotoxins of this venom stimulate oxidation of succinate and induce a partial depletion of K, Mg, and Ca ions . The latter effect does not depend on the state of energization of the mitochondria . The strongly cationic toxins may displace membrane cations. 13- and y-toxins cause a decrease in turbidity of mitochondrial suspensions, a-toxin does not. Structural modifications affecting permeability of mitochondrial membranes occur. a- and 11-toxins of B. fasciatus venom appear to be similar in neuromuscular blocking action to a- and B-bungarotoxins from B. multicinctus. y-toxin is similar in action to cobra venom cardiotoxin . Mitochondrial effects may explain the toxicity of the ß- and y-toxins of B. fasciatus venom . S.A .M . JAMES, F. K., PENCE, H. L., DRIGGERs, D. P., JACOBS, R. L. and HORTON, D. E. (Fort Sam Houston, Texas) . Imported fire ant sensitivity. J. Allergy clin. Immun. 58, (1), 110 (1976) . FIRE ant venoms are unique among hymenopteran venoms in that their active components are alkaloids with only trace amounts of protein. Nevertheless, serious hypersensitivity to fire ant venoms occurs and is a significant medical problem in the southern U.S . Venoms of the imported species, Solenopsis invicta and S. rlchteri, appear to be more toxic and more allergenic than those of the native species. Skin testing of a group of 18 individuals with fire ant allergy and a comparable group of controls showed 17 of the sensitive patients reacted to both fire ant venom and whole body extracts of the insects, while 1 control reacted to the venom and 2 to the whole body extracts . Six sensitive patients reacted to two synthesized traps isomers of venom alkaloids, while no one in either group reacted to the cis isomers. Fire ant hypersensitivity appears to be mediated by IgE with the alkaloids possibly acting as haptenes . Some of the fire ant whole body antigens occur in other Hymenoptera. The antigens responsible for hypersensitivity to fire ants appear to be present in both whole body extracts and venom. This is markedly different from the situation in wasps and bees where whole body extracts have little diagnostic value when used to skin test for hypersensitivity of venom. This is an interesting and important paper with both clinical and theoretical implications for study of hymenopteran allergies. S.A .M . ARNOLD, R . E. (Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louis ville, Kentucky). Brown recluse spider bites : five cases with a review of the literature . J. Am . College Emerg . Physicians S, 262, 1976. THE AUTHOR reports on 5 cases of suspected brown spider (Lozosceles) bites. The spider was not identified in any of the cases. The cases are scantily reviewed . No new data are presented. J.A .E . HABERMEHL, G. (Institut fur Organische Chemie der Technischn Hochschule, Darmstadt, Germany) . Gift-Tiere und ihre Waffen. Springer, Berlin, 1976. WHnE primarily written as an introductory text for biologists, chemists and physicians, and as a guide for tourists, this small yet relatively comprehensive handbook is, in the reviewer's opinion, the handiest general reference work on venomous animals and their bites or stings that has appeared in many years. The book deals with the venomous marine animals, arthropods, amphibians and reptiles, each section being further divided into subsections treating of different disciplines. It contains a short but adequate review of the chemical and pharmacological properties of venoms, a good description of the venom apparatus of many of the more important venomous animals, fine diagrams and drawings, a handy listing of references at the end of each chapter and a good index. The colored photographs are excellent and the distribution maps are quite accurate . Obviously, with the author's extensive experience in the field of the chemistry of venoms, these sections are more outstanding but the overall handling of each topic is even, adequate and well written. This book is highly recommended for teaching purposes . It would be a most valuable manual to have around, either in the field or for those questions at the end of every seminar or lecture. F.E.R .
Reviews LEBLANC, P. and LiEvREMONT, M. (Institut de Biochemie, Université de Paris-Sud Centre, d'Orsay and Laboratorie de Physiologie Biochemique, Ecole Normale Supériosure de l'Enseignement Technique, Cacaan). Some actions of purified toxins from BwWarusfasciatus venom on isolated pig-heart mitochondria . Eur. J. Biochem. 60, 541 (1975) .
THE THREE neurotoxins of this venom stimulate oxidation of succinate and induce a partial depletion of K, Mg, and Ca ions . The latter effect does not depend on the state of energization of the mitochondria . The strongly cationic toxins may displace membrane cations. 13- and y-toxins cause a decrease in turbidity of mitochondrial suspensions, a-toxin does not. Structural modifications affecting permeability of mitochondrial membranes occur. a- and 11-toxins of B. fasciatus venom appear to be similar in neuromuscular blocking action to a- and B-bungarotoxins from B. multicinctus. y-toxin is similar in action to cobra venom cardiotoxin . Mitochondrial effects may explain the toxicity of the ß- and y-toxins of B. fasciatus venom . S.A .M . JAMES, F. K., PENCE, H. L., DRIGGERs, D. P., JACOBS, R. L. and HORTON, D. E. (Fort Sam Houston, Texas) . Imported fire ant sensitivity. J. Allergy clin. Immun. 58, (1), 110 (1976) . FIRE ant venoms are unique among hymenopteran venoms in that their active components are alkaloids with only trace amounts of protein. Nevertheless, serious hypersensitivity to fire ant venoms occurs and is a significant medical problem in the southern U.S . Venoms of the imported species, Solenopsis invicta and S. rlchteri, appear to be more toxic and more allergenic than those of the native species. Skin testing of a group of 18 individuals with fire ant allergy and a comparable group of controls showed 17 of the sensitive patients reacted to both fire ant venom and whole body extracts of the insects, while 1 control reacted to the venom and 2 to the whole body extracts . Six sensitive patients reacted to two synthesized traps isomers of venom alkaloids, while no one in either group reacted to the cis isomers. Fire ant hypersensitivity appears to be mediated by IgE with the alkaloids possibly acting as haptenes . Some of the fire ant whole body antigens occur in other Hymenoptera. The antigens responsible for hypersensitivity to fire ants appear to be present in both whole body extracts and venom. This is markedly different from the situation in wasps and bees where whole body extracts have little diagnostic value when used to skin test for hypersensitivity of venom. This is an interesting and important paper with both clinical and theoretical implications for study of hymenopteran allergies. S.A .M . ARNOLD, R . E. (Department of Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louis ville, Kentucky). Brown recluse spider bites : five cases with a review of the literature . J. Am . College Emerg . Physicians S, 262, 1976. THE AUTHOR reports on 5 cases of suspected brown spider (Lozosceles) bites. The spider was not identified in any of the cases. The cases are scantily reviewed . No new data are presented. J.A .E . HABERMEHL, G. (Institut fur Organische Chemie der Technischn Hochschule, Darmstadt, Germany) . Gift-Tiere und ihre Waffen. Springer, Berlin, 1976. WHnE primarily written as an introductory text for biologists, chemists and physicians, and as a guide for tourists, this small yet relatively comprehensive handbook is, in the reviewer's opinion, the handiest general reference work on venomous animals and their bites or stings that has appeared in many years. The book deals with the venomous marine animals, arthropods, amphibians and reptiles, each section being further divided into subsections treating of different disciplines. It contains a short but adequate review of the chemical and pharmacological properties of venoms, a good description of the venom apparatus of many of the more important venomous animals, fine diagrams and drawings, a handy listing of references at the end of each chapter and a good index. The colored photographs are excellent and the distribution maps are quite accurate . Obviously, with the author's extensive experience in the field of the chemistry of venoms, these sections are more outstanding but the overall handling of each topic is even, adequate and well written. This book is highly recommended for teaching purposes . It would be a most valuable manual to have around, either in the field or for those questions at the end of every seminar or lecture. F.E.R .