Greetings all
 
I find the whole cross-immunity story very intere-sting, but never
heard any explanation that makes a lot of sense to me. In an ever
more legally-conscious world, this will have to be worked out
sometime.
 
My story. Throughout my youth I showed almost no reaction at all to
mosquito bites - and I had plenty. When I started working with bees I
exhibited what I guess was normal swelling, which gradually decreased
to nothing over a period of about three years. Now I hardly react at
all to bee stings - but if I get bitten by a mosquito, I swell up in
balloon fashion. Co-incidence? Perhaps!
 
As an aside: bee venom is very similar to cobra venom, in composition
and in effect. There are many beekeepers who routinely get stung by
hundreds of bees and show no reaction. Are they cross-resistant to
cobras as well. Any volunteers?
 
Cheers
 
Mike
 
 
Mike Allsopp                            Honeybee Research Unit
email: [log in to unmask]           Plant Protection Res. Inst.
       [log in to unmask]           Agricultural Research Council
Tel: (0027) (021) 887-4690              Private Bag X5017
Fax: (0027) (021) 883-3285              Stellenbosch 7599 South Africa