Scientists are close to developing a potential treatment for "alpha-gal" syndrome, an allergy that can affect humans after the bite of certain types of ticks, making them unable to eat red meat and some animal products.
The syndrome occurs when a tick transmits to a human the alpha-gal molecule it carries in its saliva (found in the cells of cows, pigs, and other mammals). This molecule stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against it, which can subsequently lead to an allergic reaction upon consuming beef, lamb, venison, gelatin, and some dairy products.
Symptoms range from skin rashes and nausea to stomach pain, and in severe cases can progress to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Currently, there is no cure for the syndrome, and management relies on avoiding allergens and preventing tick bites.
In a laboratory study, scientists at the US National Institutes of Health tested 42 antibodies targeting the alpha-gal molecule, after they had originally been studying the possibility of using them to combat malaria.
When antibodies failed to produce the desired results against malaria, scientists explored their potential use against the immune response causing alpha-gal syndrome. They found that 13 of them were able to bind to antibodies associated with the syndrome, while one was able to bind to immune cells involved in triggering allergic reactions.
Scientists believe these findings could pave the way for the development of a treatment based on antibodies specific to "alpha-gal," but it is still in its early stages, and it is not yet known whether this approach will be able to treat the syndrome or prevent its symptoms.
Cases of the syndrome are on the rise in the United States, with the number of confirmed cases increasing nearly 100-fold between 2013 and 2024, according to scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are approximately 450,000 cases nationwide.
The lone star tick is one of the most prominent species associated with the syndrome and is widespread in the United States. Those affected are currently advised to avoid meat and animal products that trigger their symptoms and to pay attention to the ingredients of processed foods that may contain mammalian derivatives.
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