University of IcelandNovotny, Ella N.White, Samuel J.Wilson, A. DouglasStefánsdóttir, Sara BjörkTijhaar, EdwinJónsdóttir, SigríðurFrey, RebekkaReiche, DaniaRose, HorstRhyner, ClaudioSchüpbach-Regula, GertraudÞorsteinsdóttir, SigurbjörgAlcocer, MarcosMarti, Eliane2025-11-202025-11-202021-04Novotny, E N, White, S J, Wilson, A D, Stefánsdóttir, S B, Tijhaar, E, Jónsdóttir, S, Frey, R, Reiche, D, Rose, H, Rhyner, C, Schüpbach-Regula, G, Þorsteinsdóttir, S, Alcocer, M & Marti, E 2021, 'Component-resolved microarray analysis of IgE sensitization profiles to Culicoides recombinant allergens in horses with insect bite hypersensitivity', Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 76, no. 4, pp. 1147-1157. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.145560105-4538447959326be28124-1f21-4b3b-9fc7-1955ee1414b18509016130332780483https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/6618Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Allergy published by European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Background: Allergy to bites of blood-sucking insects, including biting midges, can affect both human and veterinary patients. Horses are often suffering from an IgE-mediated allergic dermatitis caused by bites of midges (Culicoides spp). With the aim to improve allergen immunotherapy (AIT), numerous Culicoides allergens have been produced as recombinant (r-) proteins. This study aimed to test a comprehensive panel of differently expressed Culicoides r-allergens on a cohort of IBH-affected and control horses using an allergen microarray. Methods: IgE levels to 27 Culicoides r-allergens, including 8 previously unpublished allergens, of which 11 were expressed in more than one expression system, were determined in sera from 347 horses. ROC analyses were carried out, cut-offs selected using a specificity of 95% and seropositivity rates compared between horses affected with insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) and control horses. The combination of r-allergens giving the best performing test was determined using logistic regression analysis. Results: Seropositivity was significantly higher in IBH horses compared with controls for 25 r-allergens. Nine Culicoides r-allergens were major allergens for IBH with seven of them binding IgE in sera from > 70% of the IBH-affected horses. Combination of these top seven r-allergens could diagnose > 90% of IBH-affected horses with a specificity of > 95%. Correlation between differently expressed r-allergens was usually high (mean = 0.69, range: 0.28-0.91). Conclusion: This microarray will be a powerful tool for the development of component-resolved, patient-tailored AIT for IBH and could be useful for the study of allergy to biting midges in humans and other species.1112593021147-1157eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessculicoides allergensequine insect bite hypersensitivityIgEmicroarrayImmunology and AllergyImmunology/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/researchoutputtypes/contributiontojournal/article10.1111/all.14556