Examination of dust collected from the homes of asthmatic patients showed there were significant numbers of house dustmites (HDM). The allergens generated from HDM are considered to be among the risk factors for asthma development.HDM can be identified in mattresses, carpets, quilts and pillows. HDM are about 0.2 x 0.3 mm in size, so they are onlyclearly visible under microscopic magnification. Therefore, it is important to develop a trapping kit to capture and stain them.We devised a trapping kit that is comprised of an adhesive pad and a staining agent. The adhesive pad is made of cottoncloth and is coated with glue, which can attract and trap HDM to prevent them from further spreading. The staining agentcontains nanogold-coupled monoclone antibodies, which can react with HDM through binding with group 2 allergens on thebody surface of HDM. After staining, both Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Tp)become visible to the naked eye.Our study showed that the HDM trapping pad can attract and trap HDM. The stainingagent makes them visible so they can be counted. This kit can help us to identify the predominant HDM infestation area inthe household environment. By identifying the infestation area, we can reduce HDM exposure and prevent the developmentof allergic disease.
Mechanisims of asthma and allergic disease – 1085. Safety and tolerability of escalating doses of house dust mite peptide antigen desensitisation
