Comparison of honeybee venoms and their components from various sources

The use of honeybee venoms and their components may assist in the elucidation of the pathophysiology of reactions to honeybee stings. This initial study compared venoms from various sources by chemical and biological assays, and significant variations were observed. Ten different bee venoms were compared by nitrogen analysis, mouse toxicity, hyaluronidase content, and antigenicity. Based on mouse toxicity, hyaluronidase content, and gel diffusion analysis, two groups of bee venoms could be differentiated. Venoms in one group, Group A, were more toxic, contained hyaluronidase, and showed an additional precipitin band. All venoms contained mellitin as a major fraction, which formed nonimmune precipitin bands during gel diffusion analysis. Gel filtration chromatography and dialysis separated the venoms into components that were then identified by enzyme assays, rat mast cell degranulation, hemolytic activity, and gel diffusion analysis. The venoms within Group A showed similar components, some of which, most noticeably hyaluronidase, were not present in Group B. Dialysis showed that a large portion of the venom could pass through a cellophane membrane including a portion of the phospholipase A. Heterogeneous molecular weights were found for phospholipase A by both gel filtration and dialysis, and may reflect variation in carbohydrate content. It appears that bee venom variability for whatever reason, a heterogeneous MW antigen, and a non-immune precipitable component require careful consideration in any study involving this venomm. These studies have yielded relatively pure, identified bee venom components which can be employed in further studies investigating reactions to honeybee stings.