Proteomics Analysis for Discovery of Biomarker of Tick Allergy

The alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergic disease with IgE-mediated delayed hypersensitivity to the oligosaccharide galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) present in tick saliva and mammalian-derived foods and drugs. The incidence of AGS is increasing worldwide and thus requires the identification of serum biomarkers and tick biomolecules for the development of preventive, treatment, and control interventions. In this chapter, we describe step-by-step methods for proteomics analysis of human serum samples for AGS-related biomarker identification and characterization, characterization of molecular pathways involved in tick-induced allergic reactions, and advance in diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutic strategies in this emerging and clinically relevant field.