Aims: Several cockroach and ant species have been revealed to infest households with inadequate insect control and food storage practices. These household insects harbor countless bacteria species of public health, agricultural and industrial importance. Many studies have reported disease-causing bacteria from both cockroaches and ant’s species collected from hospitals and residential areas. The aim of this study was to characterize the culturable bacterial communities of two common household insects, big headed ants (Pheidole rugaticeps) and American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) using 16S rRNA genes sequencing. Methodology and results: A total of 64 bacterial sequences were obtained from P. rugaticeps (48.44%) and P. americana (51.56%) and Firmicutes was the most dominant phylum from both insect species. Bacillus was the most dominant bacterial genus from both cockroach and ant samples. Other important genera isolated were Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas which have previously been suggested to have members that are of biotechnological importance. Food poisoning bacterial species, B. cereus and other bacterial strains such as B. subtilis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Serratia marcescens and S. pseudintermedius with the history of human infections were isolated from some of the insect’s specimens. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Thus, these household insect pests harbor bacterial species known to cause diseases of serious public health importance that needs serious attentions. Similarly, the insects harbor other bacteria species that may provide opportunities for biotechnological exploration.
Ants ; Periplaneta ; Public health

Periplaneta americana is an important medicinal insect. A series of new drugs developed from it have remarkable clinical effects and are in great demand in the market. Because of unclear biology, the quality and yield of P. americana are affected. Understanding the developmental threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature of P. americana can provide theoretical basis for standardized culture of P.americana. Under climate chamber, the threshold temperature and effective accumulated temperature for egg development of P. americana to were determined through effective accumulated temperature law. The threshold temperature was （15.8±0.71）°C, the effective accumulated temperature was 415.8±38.05 degree days. A model of the relationship between temperature and developmental rates was established.
Animals ; Ovum ; physiology ; Periplaneta ; physiology ; Temperature

BACKGROUND: Although many recent reports have suggested an important role of cockroach in atopic dermatitis, little is known about the relationship between cockroach hypersensitivity and environmental factors. OBJECT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations with cockroach hypersensitivity and environmental factors in patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: We performed a prick test on 100 patients with atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma and 30 controls with cockroach crude extract(German cockroach, American cockroach, body, egg, feces). Detailed history about various environmental factors were taken. RESULTS: There were significant increases in the positive prick test results in atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma groups compared with the control group. The positive prick test results were variable according to each environmental factor(residence type, family income, experience in looking cockroach, and exertion for extermination). CONCLUSION: The higher positive prick test results of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma in this study suggest a role of immediate allergic reactions to cockroach antigen. Different prick test results according to each environment could imply that environmental factors have important effects on the development of cockroach hypersensitivity. Positive prick test results with cockroach crude extract were specially high in the group that does not live in the apartment.
Asthma ; Cockroaches* ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Ovum ; Periplaneta ; Rhinitis

PURPOSE: Home exposure to aeroallergens are an important environmental factor in allergic sensitization and in the development and exacerbation of asthma. Most studies of aeroallergens were dust mite in Korea, but cockroach distribution was little been known in Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate species of cockroaches and seasonal distribution of cockroaches in Seoul area. METHODS: The study was performed during April 2000 through January 2001, from 63 houses in Korea. The total of 63 residential homes from different districts in Seoul were selected for the home environment survey. Bait traps (10 x 20 x 4 cm2, Zoro Zoro, Taisho Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan) were placed on four different places of kitchen floor and one in the side of balcony in the house and left for 5 days to capture cockroaches. RESULTS: The cockroaches were captured in 23 houses(36.5%) out of 63 houses. And the inhabitant density of cockroaches was highest in the autumn(43.3%) followed by summer (29.2%), spring(18.3%) and winter(9.2%). In only 3 species were collected in Seoul area. The most common species were Blattella germanica showing 72.5% of the collected cockroaches, followed by Periplaneta japonica(25.2%) Periplaneta americana(2.3%). The total number of captured cockroaches was 504 and the number of nymph was 314(62.2%). Isolated house type showed higher trapping rates than the apartment. Positive skin test rates were 46.2% in the healthy control group and 43.8% in the allergy patients. CONCLUSION: Periplaneta americana was captured in Seoul area, which had not been found previously. The inhabitant density of cockroaches was the lowest in the winter.
Allergens* ; Asthma ; Cockroaches* ; Dust ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Mites ; Nymph ; Periplaneta ; Pharmacy ; Seasons* ; Seoul* ; Skin Tests

The impact of indoor allergens is greater than that of outdoor or occupational environments. Cockroaches have been demonstrated to be an etiologic factor in allergic diseases, especially in patients with lower socioeconomic classes in large urban areas. Infestations of cockroaches are largely dependent on housing conditions, and hypersensitivity is dependent on exposure. We herein report a 38-year-old man with factitious urticaria revealed strong positive reactions to crude extracts of American cockroach and German cockroach at a skin pinprick test and Western blot analysis.
Adult ; Allergens ; Blattellidae ; Blotting, Western ; Cockroaches* ; Complex Mixtures ; Housing ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Periplaneta ; Skin ; Urticaria*

Animals ; Cardiovascular System ; physiopathology ; Fatigue ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Periplaneta ; chemistry ; Physical Conditioning, Animal

This study aims to investigate the role of slient mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 1(SIRT1)/tuberous sclerosis complex 2(TSC2)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling pathways in the Periplaneta americana extract CⅡ-3-induced senescence of human leukemia K562 cells. K562 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with 0(control), 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg·mL~(-1) of P. americana extract CⅡ-3. Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) and flow cytometry were employed to examine the proliferation and cell cycle of the K562 cells. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase stain kit(SA-β-gal) was used to detect the positive rate of senescent cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by flow cytometry. The relative mRNA level of telomerase reverse transcriptase(TERT) was determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR. The mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1, TSC2, and mTOR were determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively. The results showed that CⅡ-3 significantly inhibited the proliferation of K562 cells and the treatment with 80 μg·mL~(-1) CⅡ-3 for 72 h had the highest inhibition rate. Therefore, 80 μg·mL~(-1) CⅡ-3 treatment for 72 h was selected as the standard for subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, CⅡ-3 increased the proportion of cells arrested in G_0/G_1 phase, decreased the proportion of cells in S phase, increased the positive rate of SA-β-Gal staining, elevated the mitochondrial membrane potential and down-regulated the mRNA expression of TERT. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of SIRT1 and TSC2 was down-regulated, while the mRNA expression of mTOR was up-regulated. The protein expression of SIRT1 and p-TSC2 was down-regulated, while the protein expression of p-mTOR was up-regulated. The results indicated that P. americana extract CⅡ-3 induced the senescence of K562 cells via the SIRT1/mTOR signaling pathway.
Humans ; Animals ; Periplaneta ; Sirtuin 1/genetics* ; K562 Cells ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; RNA, Messenger ; Mammals

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There are many differences in common inhalant allergens between countries and regions. We need to determine the major inhalant allergens in this country with geographical characteristics. To observe the major inhalant allergens and establish essential ones for the skin prick test in Korea, a nation-wide multicenter study was performed. METHOD: The skin prick tests were performed with the same kits of 43 allergens on 2,554 allergy patients who visited their regional hospitals for one year. RESULT: There are significant differences in the sensitization rate to common inhalant allergens among the centers. Twenty three allergens showed > or=5% sensitization rate: D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Tetranychus urticae, Panonychus citri, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium tenuis, cat fur, dog hair, American and German cockroach, tree pollen mixture I, alder, hazel, tree pollen mixture II, birch, beech, oak, plane tree, ragweed, mugwort, hop Japanese and chrysanthemum. CONCLUSION: We suggest the major allergens such as D. pteronyssinus, D. farinae, T. putrescentiae, T. urticae, P. citri, outdoor molds, indoor molds, cat fur, dog hair, German and American cockroaches, tree pollens, mugwort, and hop Japanese pollen should be included in skin test battery in Korea.
Allergens* ; Alnus ; Alternaria ; Ambrosia ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Blattellidae ; Cats ; Chrysanthemum ; Cladosporium ; Dogs ; Fagus ; Fungi ; Hair ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea* ; Periplaneta ; Pollen ; Skin ; Skin Tests

We evaluated the efficacy of health education in reducing indoor arthropod allergens in Seoul. The mite control measures comprised the use of mite-proof mattress and pillow coverings, regular washing of potentially infested materials, maintenance of a low humidity, removal of carpets, and frequent vacuum cleaning. Cockroach control measures included trapping, application of insecticides, and protecting food. Of 201 homes enrolled in October 1999, 63 volunteers were included in a 2-year follow-up survey between April 2000 and January 2002. Before intervention, the density of mites/g of dust varied greatly; 27.1/g in children's bedding, 20/g in adult bedding, 7.2/g on the floors of children's bedrooms, 6.8/g in sofas, 5.9/g on the floors of adult's bedrooms, 3.9/g on living room floors, 3.7/g in carpets, and 1.9 mites/g on kitchen floors. The predominant mite species and house percentages infested were; Dermatophagoides farinae 93%, D. pteronyssinus 9%, and Tyrophagus putrescentiae 8%. Comparing 1999 and 2001 infestations, before and after 25 mo of education, mite abundance was reduced by 98%, from 23.7 to 0.57 mites/g of dust. In 1999, cockroaches were detected in 62% homes: 36% Blattella germanica and 35% Periplaneta spp., including 9% double infestations of B. germanica and P. americana. Following intervention, cockroach infestation rates decreased to 22% of houses in 2000 and 23% in 2001. We conclude that continuous and repetitive health education resulted in the effective control of domestic arthropods.
Tick Control/*methods ; *Pyroglyphidae ; Population Density ; *Periplaneta ; Korea ; Insect Control/*methods ; Health Education/*standards ; Environment ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; *Blattellidae ; Animals ; Allergens/analysis

PURPOSE: Cockroach (CR) is a common source of indoor allergens, and Per a 1 is a major American CR (Periplaneta americana) allergen; however, several attributes of this protein remain unknown. This study identifies a novel specific B cell epitope and anatomical locations of Per a 1.0105. METHODS: Recombinant Per a 1.0105 (rPer a 1.0105) was used as BALB/c mouse immunogen for the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAb). The MAb specific B cell epitope was identified by determining phage mimotopic peptides and pair-wise alignment of the peptides with the rPer a 1.0105 amino acid sequence. Locations of the Per a 1.0105 in P. americana were investigated by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The rPer a 1.0105 (~13 kDa) had 100%, 98% and > or =90% identity to Per a 1.0105, Per a 1.0101, and Cr-PII, respectively. The B-cell epitope of the Per a 1.0105 specific-MAb was located at residues99 QDLLLQLRDKGV110 contained in all 5 Per a 1.01 isoforms and Per a 1.02. The epitope was analogous to the Bla g 1.02 epitope; however, this B-cell epitope was not an IgE inducer. Per a 1.0105 was found in the midgut and intestinal content of American CR but not in the other organs. The amount of the Per a 1 was ~544 degrees Cg per gram of feces. CONCLUSIONS: The novel Per a 1 B-cell epitope described in this study is a useful target for allergen quantification in samples; however, the specific MAb can be used as an allergen detection reagent. The MAb based-affinity resin can be made for allergen purification, and the so-purified protein can serve as a standard and diagnostic allergen as well as a therapeutic vaccine component. The finding that the Per a 1 is contained in the midgut and feces is useful to increase yield and purity when preparing this allergen.
Allergens ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Bacteriophages ; Cockroaches ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte* ; Feces ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Hybridomas ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mice ; Peptides ; Periplaneta* ; Protein Isoforms