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Is an allergic reaction associated with bites from; ticks, chiggers, flies and other blood sucking insects.1, 2, 3, 10
Is characterized by a hypersensitivity to the oligosaccharideOligosaccharides are carbohydrates that contain two or more than two monosaccharides (2-10 units of monosaccharides). Based on the number of sugar units they contain, they are of different types. Trisaccharides, tetrasaccharides, pentasaccharides, etc. galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (also labeled as galactose-α-1,3-galactose) (Alpha-Gal or α-Gal) antigen.In this case the antigen is a carbohydrate molecule epitope. which is another name for a sugar molecule.4
Can be amplified (made worse) by an increased count of Alpha-Gal epitopes.An epitope is the part of the antigen that binds to a specific antigen receptor on the surface of a B cell.7
Can be controlled (modulated) by immunoglobulin E (IgE).CDC-1 which is one of 5 types of immunoglobulins (antibodies) produced by our plasma cells.NIH-1
Has been fatal for some of those receiving Cetuximab for cancer treatment.6
May be an opportunity for crazy science experiments on humans.8
The AGS carbohydrate molecule is also considered a sugar found in the tissues of all mammals except humans and other primates. It is also known as mammalian meat allergy, Alpha-Gal allergy, red meat allergy, and tick bite meat allergy.Yale-1
When people who are allergic to Alpha-Gal eat beef, pork, lamb, or meat from other mammals, they have an allergic reaction that causes a range of symptoms, including a rash, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms usually occur three to six hours after eating. In some cases, people may have an immediate life-threatening anaphylactic reaction that requires medical attention.Yale-1
Humans lack the enzyme necessary to process and break down the Alpha-Gal molecule found in mammals. Therefore, any Alpha-Gal we ingest through red meat or potentially from tick bites remains largely unprocessed in our bodies and winds up acting like a foreign substance (an antigen).NIH-3
It is important to note that a portion of the ingested Alpha-Gal is likely excreted through waste, even without complete processing. Additionally, some gut bacteria may play a role in partially degrading the molecule.
The overall fate of Alpha-Gal in the human body is still an area of active research, with scientists investigating the specific mechanisms involved in its interaction with the immune system and elimination from the body.
12Recurrent tick bites induce high levels of anti-α-Gal IgE
13Discovery of Exosomes From Tick Saliva and Salivary Glands Reveals Therapeutic Roles for CXCL12 and IL-8 in Wound Healing at the Tick–Human Skin InterfaceE
23Alpha Gal Wanes Over Time in Patients Who Avoid Tick Bites
24Oral immunotherapy in alpha-gal red meat allergy: Could specific IgE be a potential biomarker in monitoring management?
Getting into the weeds
If you care to dig deeper into how the antigens and the antibodies interact, start with the α-Gal epitopeAn epitope is the part of the antigen that binds to a specific receptor on the surface of a B cell."B-1, which refers to the carbohydrate α-d-Galp-(1 → 3)-β-d-Galp-(1 → 4)-d-GlcNAc-R NIH-4, NIH-5
As an aid in diagnosis of an IgE mediated hypersensitivity allergy to non-primate mammalian red meat, such as beef, pork, venison, and meat-derived products (eg, gelatin)
Reading The Results
Reference Values
Class
IgE kU/L
Interpretation
0
<0.10
Negative
0/1
0.10-0.34
Borderline/equivocal
1
0.35-0.69
Equivocal
2
0.70-3.49
Positive
3
3.50-17.4
Positive
4
17.5-49.9
Strongly positive
5
50.0-99.9
Strongly positive
6
≥100
Strongly positive
Concentrations of 0.70 Ku/L or more (Class 2 and above) will flag as abnormally high
Reference values apply to all ages.
The ImmunoCAP test demonstrates patient sensitivity to specific allergens – reporting in number of kilounits per liter (KU/L)