Mites carrier of allergens

Mites and molds, the main source of allergens involved in allergic asthma, co-habit the same housings. When present in grain silos and other depots, mites transport mold spores and contaminate their environment. Simultaneously, certain species of spores are selected by the mites' feeding habits. Mites' ingestion of spores also induces the liberation of guanine and fatty acids that favor their mating. Additionally, there is competition between mites for habitat colonization. Mites exist in different sizes and they have different capacities of movement, meaning that some mite species thrive better than others. The temperature plays a main role in their movements and other reactions and consequently affects their defense capacities. Factors such as humidity and the availability of food and various chemical substances can modify the potential of each mite species to control its habitat, in particular, by increasing or reducing their fertility. Considering all these facts, it is important to recognize the impact of mites in the dispersion of mold spores. We hypothesize that the ratio between the propagation and the ingestion of mold spores probably favors their propagation, which suggests a true symbiotic relationship between mites and molds. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.