Glycolipids of house dust mites – studying the impact of allergen-lipid association

Introduction: House dust mites (HDM) are important inductors of allergic asthma. HDM and its fecal pellets consist of glycoproteins and a wide range of chemically distinct substances, including lipids, which potentially initiate and/or modulate allergic reactions. Lipids can protect allergens from degradation and enhance their cellular uptake. Several major allergens from different sources bear hydrophobic domains, thus enabling them to interact with lipids.