HYMENOPTERA VENOMS - STRUCTURE AND PHYSIC OCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ALLERGENS AND THE VARIOUS CONSTITUENTS OF VENOMS

By definition, hymenoptera venoms contain toxic substances, which; lik e snake or scorpion venoms, have particularly active and lethal pharma cochemical effects at high doses. Although this toxicity is reduced at very low doses, other constituents (allergens) can induce just as ser ious allergic reactions (fatal anaphylactic shock) following sensitiza tion to one or several of these allergens, after a single sting. Aller gy to hymenoptera venoms differs from other types of allergy, especial ly environment-related respiratory allergies, by various elements such as sensitization by injection, the appearance of the symptoms and tre atment with immunotherapy (almost 100 % effective). Recent progress in research has provided a wealth of information about the biochemical a nd allergenic composition of these venoms and has allowed the developm ent of experimental models which will be very useful for the study of the mechanisms of sensitization.