Shedding Light on the Venom Proteomes of the Allergy-Relevant Hymenoptera <i>Polistes dominula</i> (European Paper Wasp) and <i>Vespula</i> spp. (Yellow Jacket)

• Main Authors: Johannes Grosch, Christiane Hilger, Maria Beatrice Bilò, Stephanie Kler, Maximilian Schiener, Gunnar Dittmar, François Bernardin, Antoine Lesur, Markus Ollert, Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber, Simon Blank
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
• Series: Toxins
• Subjects: allergen; Hymenoptera venom allergy; European paper wasp; <i>Polistes dominula</i> venom; venom proteome; <i>Vespula</i> spp. venom
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/5/323

Allergic reactions to stings of Hymenoptera species can have serious or even fatal consequences. If the identification of the culprit insect is possible, venom-specific immunotherapy effectively cures Hymenoptera venom allergies. Although component-resolved diagnostics has strongly evolved in recent years, the differentiation between allergies to closely related species such as <i>Polistes dominula</i> and <i>Vespula</i> spp. is still challenging. In order to generate the basis for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, this study aims at resolving the venom proteomes (venomes) of these species. The venoms of <i>P. dominula</i> and <i>Vespula</i> spp. (<i>V. germanica</i>, <i>V. vulgaris</i>) were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Resulting proteins were characterized regarding their function, localization and biochemical properties. The analyses yielded 157 proteins in <i>Vespula</i> spp. and 100 in <i>P. dominula</i> venom; 48 proteins, including annotated allergens, were found in both samples. In addition to a variety of venom trace molecules, new allergen candidates such as icarapin-like protein and phospholipase A2 were identified. This study elucidates the venomes of closely related allergy-eliciting Hymenoptera species. The data indicates that relying on marker allergens to differentiate between <i>P. dominula</i> and <i>Vespula</i> spp. venom allergy is probably insufficient and that strategies using cross-reactive major allergens could be more promising.