HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS AND SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN WORKERS EXPOSEDTO INDUSTRIAL ENZYMES AT A BIOTECHNOLOGY PLANT

Thirty-six employees who produced industrial enzymes from selected str ains of bacteria and fungi were evaluated by epicutaneous threshold te sting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for specific IgE and IgG antibodies. The workers complained of 'asthma- and flu-like' s ymptoms, which generally lessened away from work. The enzymes evaluate d were: alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-(d)-glucan glucanohydrolase) from Bac illus licheniformis (alpha ABl), B. subtilis formation 1 (alpha A1Bs) and B. subtilis formation 2 (alpha A2Bs); purified alpha-amylase from B. licheniformis (C alpha ABl) and A. oryzae (C alpha AAo); alkaline p rotease from B. licheniformis (APBl) and purified alkaline protease (C APBl); amyloglucosidase (1,4-alpha-(d)-glucan glucohydrolase) from A. niger (AGAn) and purified amyloglucosidase (CAGAn). Statistically sign ificant increases (P > 0.05) in the proportion of workers having posit ive skin tests to CAPBl, AGAn and CAGAn were found. Significantly elev ated (P > 0.05) mean specific IgE results were observed for C alpha AA o CAGAn and AGAn, and elevated (P > 0.05) mean specific IgGs were obse rved for C alpha AAo, CAGAn, AGAn, alpha A1Bs, alpha AB1 and alpha A2B s. These results indicate that occupational exposure to some industria l enzymes can cause immediate-onset cutaneous hypersensitivity reactio ns, pulmonary function deficits and significantly elevated specific an tibody levels, Our results are equivocal as to whether work-related re spiratory and cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions are antibody mediat ed, as there was no statistically significant association between thes e reactions and specific IgE or IgG levels.