Allergic asthma caused by exposure to bacterial alpha-amylase termamyl®

Background Airborne enzymes behave as potent respiratory allergens. Till date, allergic disorders caused by genetically engineered enzymes widely used in the industry, have not been reported. Results and Conclusions We describe a worker employed in the detergent industry who developed asthma and rhinitis from IgE-mediated sensitization to the thermostable endo-alpha-amylase Termamyl (R) and to the protease Savinase (R). This is the first report showing that Termamyl (R) elicits allergic respiratory disorders in humans. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:378380, 2013. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.