House dust mites are microarthropods that occur in most human homes in humid geographical areas, and these organisms are known to be a major cause of house dust allergy. The mites live in the dust in mattresses, carpets and upholstered furniture where they feed on shed skin scales. Storage mites occur in stored grains and food made from grains, barn dust, and livestock feed and they may occur in homes too. Like house dust mites, storage mites also sensitize and induce allergic reactions in humans. Our research concentrates on characterization of the response of skin cells to molecules from house dust and storage mites and the allergic response in dust sensitive individuals. Also, various aspects of the mite biology and ecology that allows these organisms to survive in the microenvironment in homes are being investigated.

Mite-caused scabies is an important, widespread, highly contagious skin disease of humans and other mammals. Little is known about the biology of the mite and the host-parasite interactions. We are investigating the host inflammatory and immune response mechanisms in cells of the skin to scabies mites and how the parasite modulates these responses. Our goal is to develop a better understanding of the host-parasite relationship that will lead to development of novel strategies for prevention, control and treatment of this disease.

Representative Publications:

Arlian LG, Elder BL, Morgan MS. 2009. House dust mite extracts activate cultured human dermal endothelial cells to express adhesion molecules and secrete cytokines. J Medical Entomol. 46:595-604.

Elder BL, Arlian LG, Morgan MS. 2009. Modulation of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells by Sarcoptes scabiei in combination with proinflammatory cytokines, histamine, and lipid-derived biologic mediators. Cytokine 47:103-111.

Arlian LG, Morgan MS, Vyszenski-Moher DL, Sharra D. 2009. Cross-reactivity between storage and dust mites and between mites and shrimp. Exp Appl Acarol 47:159-172.

Arlian LG, Morgan MS, Peterson 2008. House dust and stored mite extracts influence skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts function. Internat. Arch. Allergy and Immunology 145:33-42.

Arlian LG, Morgan MS, Paul CP. 2006. Evidence that scabies mites (Acarina: Sarcoptidae) influence production of Interleukin-10 and the function of T-regulatory cells (Tr1) in humans. J Med Entomol. 43: 283-287.

Yadav A, Elder BL, Morgan MS, Vyszenski-Moher DL, Arlian LG. 2006. Prevalence of serum IgE to storage mites in a southwestern Ohio population. Ann Allergy, Asthma & Immunol. 96:356-362.

Elder BL, Arlian LG, Morgan MS. 2006. Sarcoptes scabiei (Acari: Sarcoptidae) mite extract modulates expression of cytokines and adhesion molecules by human dermal microvascular endothelial cells. J Med Entomol. 43:910-915.

Arlian LG, Morgan MS, Estes SA, Walton SF, Kemp DJ, Currie BJ. 2004. Circulating IgE in patients with ordinary and crusted scabies. J Med Entomol. 41:74-77.

Arlian LG. 2002. Arthropod allergens and human health. Annual review of Entomology. 47:395-433.

Arlian LG, Platts-Mills TAE. 2001. The biology of dust mites and the remediation of mite allergens in allergic disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 107:S406-13.