Now we're getting to my question about what we mean by the term "immune"
when applied to one's response to bee stings.

I don't go into anaphylaxis in response to peanuts, dust mites, or
shellfish.  Would you call me "immune" to them?
As I understand it, everyone is born immune to them.  It's only after the
first exposure that one might become sensitized (meaning an overactive
immune response).

This is why I questioned what we mean when we talk about "immunity" to bee
stings.  It sounds as though one can become quite acclimated or "tolerant"
to bee venom, as are most professional beekeepers.

"At the simplest level, allergen tolerance can be considered as a
non-pathogenic immune response to allergen that is mediated by an active
 process."  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4547464/

But tolerance apparently does not mean "immunity," since on occasion, a
tolerant beekeeper can exhibit a severe allergic response.
This is a scary thought for those of us who don't think twice about getting
stung.
-- 
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
www.ScientificBeekeeping.com

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