>Does anyone know exactly what in the venom triggers anaphylactic reactions?  Is that component different from what causes the initial pain and swelling that we would all call a fairly normal reaction?


My reading on the subject:



Allergen ( from my earlier post) 

> Venoms also represent a major class of allergens in humans. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a conserved component of venoms from multiple species and is the major allergen in bee venom


Pain

>Melittin is a basic 26-amino-acid polypeptide that constitutes 40-60% of dry honeybee (Apis mellifera) venom. Although much is known about its strong surface activity on lipid membranes, less is known about its pain-producing effects in the nervous system. In this review, we provide lines of accumulating evidence to support the hypothesis that melittin is the major pain-producing substance of bee venom.


>Melittin, the Major Pain-Producing Substance of Bee Venom
Jun Chen et al. 

There is also research on how PLA2 and melittin work together. I think melittin lyses cells that's why it was being researched as a cancer treatment.


Bill Hesbach

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