Scientists have moved one step closer to a treatment for a potentially deadly tick-borne condition that leaves sufferers unable to eat red meat.
Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergic reaction to alpha-gal, a molecule that is found in the cells of cows, pigs and other mammals but not humans.
It is caused by the bite of a tick that has the molecule in its saliva. The bite triggers the immune system to attack alpha-gal and cause the allergy.
Sufferers who consume products such as beef, pork, lamb, venison and gelatin may experience hives, nausea and severe stomach pain. In serious cases, the allergy can also trigger the potentially life-threatening complication anaphylaxis. Some people may also experience reactions to dairy products.
Currently, there is no specific treatment or cure for the condition and the only way to prevent it is to avoid tick bites and avoid triggers if diagnosed.
But scientists at the National Institutes of Health say they may now have inched closer to a potential treatment for the disease using antibodies, proteins that can bind to areas of the immune system.
In a lab study, they found that man-made antibodies could bind to parts of the immune system that trigger the allergy – which may stop it from happening.
Dr John Powers, a director at the NIH, said: ‘Tick bite-associated cases of AGS are increasing in the US and globally, and there is currently no specific treatment or prevention for it.
Shown above is the lone star tick, which researchers say is most likely to trigger alpha-gal syndrome
‘This is a first step in potentially identifying ways to prevent [the condition] and develop new targeted therapies for people before they are affected.’
Anyone who is bitten by any tick could develop AGS, but the lone star tick – marked by the white spot on its back – is most likely to cause the disease.
These ticks are most common in the Northeast, Midwest and South and their population has exploded in recent years, which has been linked to the rising deer population. Warming temperatures are also allowing them to advance further inland.
There has been a 100-fold increase in positive tests for the disease between 2013 and 2024, according to researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University, although experts say some of this may be due to growing awareness of the disease rather than an actual rise.
Overall, the CDC estimates there are more than 450,000 cases nationwide. About 31 million people are bitten by ticks annually.
Researchers note that other allergies, including those to pollen, peanuts and cats, can already be treated using man-made antibodies, which they said suggested these may also be able to help to treat AGS.
In their study, the scientists were initially investigating whether alpha-gal-fighting antibodies could be used against malaria.
Malaria, spread by mosquitoes, also contains the alpha-gal molecule and researchers wanted to learn whether the antibodies could help to prevent an infection.
In the paper, the scientists exposed 42 alpha-gal-targeting antibodies to malaria but found that none bound well to the mosquito-borne disease.
When they found the alpha-gal fighting antibodies had no impact on malaria, they investigated whether they could impact the antibodies that cause AGS.
A map showing the geographic distribution of suspected alpha-gal syndrome cases per 1 million population per year in the US from 2017 to 2022
Overall, they found that 13 of the antibodies could bind to those that cause AGS. One of the antibodies was also able to bind to an immune system cell that triggers the allergy, which they said might help to reduce it effectively.
The research is still in the very early stages, but scientists hope it will help them to develop a potential treatment for the condition.
It is not clear whether this could cure the condition, but it may be able to prevent an allergic reaction if a sufferer consumes red meat.
Dr Peter Crompton, a senior investigator and lead author of the study, said: ‘We are thrilled that this research is helping to advance the development of alpha-gal-specific… antibodies as a potential intervention for AGS.
‘This discovery is also a remarkable example of how collaborative global health research can lead to breakthroughs that improve the health and well-being of Americans.’
For anyone suffering from AGS who has an allergic reaction, in cases of a mild reaction, doctors may use standard allergy medicines to manage their condition.
Many people with the allergy also carry an epinephrine auto injector, according to the Mayo Clinic, which can be used to instantly calm the immune system.
To avoid a reaction entirely, sufferers are advised not to consume beef, pork, lamb, organ meats such as kidneys, livers or intestines or gelatins or gelatin-coated medicines.
They are also urged to check the ingredients list for stock cubes, gravy packages and flavored ingredients before consuming them.
