The elevated rates of lower respiratory symptoms in individuals sensitized to tropomyosin may reflect its role as a cross-reactive pan-allergen between mites and crustaceans (49), as shown clinically by the association of IgE to shrimp tropomyosin (Pen a 1) and its mite homolog Der p 10 with asthma and respiratory manifestations, and experimentally by murine models in which shrimp tropomyosin induced eosinophilic airway inflammation and asthma-like Th2 responses (50, 51). This evidence concerns the gene IGHE and asthma.