Study of the toxic and allergenic properties of melittin obtained from honey bee venom

T.G. Fedoskova¹, A.I. Martynov¹, A.N. Pampura², O.V. Mislavsky¹, D.V. Shabanov¹, S.R. Mashtakova¹, E.D. Golovkina¹

¹State Research Center "Institute of Immunology" of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency, Moscow

²Veltischev Research and Clinical Institute for Pediatrics of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow

Aim: to study the toxic and allergenic activity of melittin, the main component of bee venom, which makes up 35–50% of the venom total dry weight, using various diagnostic methods.

Patients and Methods: we used melittin from the bee venom of the company Sigma (USA) and melittin obtained from domestic raw bee venom (RBV). The toxic and allergenic activity of the studied peptide was studied on the model of various laboratory animals with different degrees of sensitivity. Specific IgE level was studied by the method of enzyme Immunoassay. The method of active cutaneous anaphylaxis was applied in order to study the melittin sensitizing properties.

Results: it was shown that the toxic effect of domestic melittin from RBV was not inferior to the foreign melittin. Laboratory animal model most sensitive to the melittin  toxic properties was found. The coincidence of the dose-dependent effect for acute toxicity was noted. The allergenic properties of the studied peptide were studied when administrating the least toxic doses of melittin (0.1 LD₅₀).

Conclusion: the presence of pronounced toxic properties and weak allergenic properties of melittin indicate that it is not advisable to use melittin as part of antihistamines.

Keywords: insect sting allergy, honey bee, Apis mellifera, bee venom, melittin, toxic properties, allergenic properties.

For citation: Fedoskova T.G., Martynov A.I., Pampura A.N. et al. Study of the toxic and allergenic properties of melittin obtained from honey bee venom. RMJ. 2020;12:50–55.