Component-Resolved Diagnosis of American Cockroach ( Periplaneta americana ) Allergy in Patients From Different Geographical Areas

Manifestation of respiratory allergy to American cockroach ( ) is prominent in the subtropical and tropical areas. However, co-existing perennial indoor inhalant allergies frequently compromise clinical diagnosis of cockroach allergy, and the analysis of sensitization pattern is limited by the lack of allergens widely available for component-resolved diagnostics (CRD). To evaluate a collection of previously described recombinant allergens for CRD in cockroach allergy. A panel of nine recombinant a allergens (Per a 1-5, 7-10) was generated, purified, and subjected to physicochemical characterization by applying circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), amino acid (AA) analysis, and mass spectrometry (MS). Patients ( = 117) from India, Korea, Venezuela, and Iran, reporting perennial respiratory indoor allergies with IgE sensitization to cockroach ( ), were included. The sensitization profile was monitored by the experimental ImmunoCAP testing. ImmunoCAP testing confirmed IgE sensitization to and/or extract in 98 of 117 patients ( = 0.95). Five out of 117 patients were sensitized to only one of the two cockroach species. Within the whole study group, the prevalence of sensitization to individual allergens varied from 4% (Per a 2) to 50% (Per a 9), with the highest IgE values to Per a 9. Patients from four countries displayed different sensitization profiles at which Per a 3 and Per a 9 were identified as major allergens in India and Korea. -derived lipocalin and myosin light chain were characterized as new minor allergens, designated as Per a 4 and Per a 8. extract showed higher diagnostic sensitivity than all individual components combined, suggesting the existence of allergens yet to be discovered. Utilization of a panel of purified allergens revealed highly heterogeneous sensitization patterns and allowed the classification of lipocalin and myosin light chain from as new minor allergens.