IDENTIFICATION OF AN IGE-BINDING DETERMINANT OF THE MAJOR ALLERGEN MYR-P-I FROM THE VENOM OF THE AUSTRALIAN JUMPER ANT MYRMECIA-PILOSULA

The structure of the single allergenic determinant of the major ant venom allergen, Myr p T from the Australian jumper ant Myrmecia pilosula has been determined by inhibition studies with synthetic peptides. A 14 amino-acid C-terminal peptide sequence has been shown to constitute this determinant. Half-maximal inhibition of binding of ant venom-specific IgE antibodies to the native venom was obtained with this peptide at a concentration of 5.10(-8)M. This allergenic determinant was invariant for all ant venom-allergic subjects tested whose IgE antibodies recognized this allergen.