Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
Isolation, Behavioral Identification, and Pathogenicity Assessment of Entomopathogenic Fungi from a Forest Wood Borer
Published on: September 29, 2023
Setae from the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) contain several relevant allergens
Ana Isabel Rodriguez-Mahillo1, Miguel Gonzalez-Muñoz, José María Vega
1Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica, FIB Hospital Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
Background:
Pine processionary larvae produce urticating hairs (setae) that serve for protection against predators. Setae induce cutaneous reactions in animals and humans. The presence of toxic or allergic mechanisms is a matter of debate.
Objectives:
To detect the presence of allergens in setae and to characterize them.
Materials And Methods:
Setae extracts were characterized by gel staining and immunoblot, with sera from patients with immediate reactions and positive prick test reactions, as well as a rabbit antiserum raised against setae. Setae proteins were fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The most relevant allergen was analysed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS), and its sequence was deduced from an expressed sequence tag bank. Results. Setae contained at least seven different allergens. The most intense detection corresponded to a protein of MW ~ 14,000 that was similar to thaumetopoein, a previously described protein with mast cell-degranulating properties. MALDI-MS-based de novo sequencing provided a partial amino acid sequence different from that of the previously described allergen Tha p 1, and it was named Tha p 2. This allergen was detected in 61% of patients, and it is therefore a new major caterpillar allergen.
Conclusions:
Penetration of the setae from the pine processionary caterpillar delivers their allergenic content in addition to causing mechanical or toxic injury.
