SCIENTISTS SPOT GENETIC THREAT ELEMENTS UNDERLYING PENICILLIN ALLERGY!

–Richismita Hazra, Amity University Kolkata

Alexander Fleming’s remarkable discovery PENICILLIN- ruling over the Earth for more than 100 years has been the most common cause of hypersensitivity reactions or drug allergy. Presence of genetic factors have been traced only in rare acute allergic reactions thereby keeping milder forms of hypersensitivity reactions still in dim light.

The Genome Wide Associated Study (GWAS) of self reported data and electronic health records (EHR) for more than 500,000 participants of several Biobanks provided insights into the genetic framework associated with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I gene HLA-B, fine mapping of which tapered the signal down to HLA-B*55:01 allele. A missense variant in the PTPN22 gene, associated with autoimmune diseases was also detected in this assay.

The authors further emphasize the necessity of determination of precise underlying immune process and its change over time because some patients marked as allergic to Penicillin developed tolerance over time. 

Source: Genome-wide Study Identifies Association between HLA-B∗55:01 and Self-Reported Penicillin Allergy.Krebs, K., et al. (2020), American Journal of Human Genetics DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.08.008