Deactivants for dust mite allergens

Abstract

Der-f and/or Der-p dust mite allergens are deactivated by a liquid composition comprising one or more of the following deactivants: i) cedarwood oil, ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, iii) aluminium chlorohydrate, iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2, v) polyquaternium-10 vi) silica gel, vii) propylene glycol alginate, viii) ammonium sulphate, ix) hinokitiol, x) L-ascorbic acid, xi) immobilised tannic acid, xii) chlorohexidine, xiii) maleic anhydride, xiv) hinoki oil, xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO2, xvi) diazolidinyl urea, xviii) a compound of formula I xix) the compound of formula II xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200, xxi) urea, xxii) cyclodextrin, xxiii) hydrogenated hop oil, xxiv) polyvinylpyrrolidone, xxv) N-methylpyrrolidone, xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone, xxvii) potassium thioglycolate, and xxviii) glutaraldehyde. Deactivants (i) to (xx) are effective against allergens derived from both species. Deactivants (xxi) to (xxvi) are effective against only Der-f allergens. Deactivants (xxvii) and (xxviii) are effective against only Der-p allergens.

Description

It has been known for a long time that house dust can trigger allergenic reactions in humans, such as asthma and rhinitis. It was reported, as early as 1928, that it was the dust mites in the dust that were the primary source of the allergenic response but it was only in the 1960's that researchers appreciated its significance.

It is believed that the faeces of two particular house dust mite, species, Dermatophagoides farinae (known as Der-f) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (known as Der-p) trigger the immune responses of the body, thereby-giving rise to well known allergenic symptoms.

A review of this is given in Experimental and Applied Acarology, 10 (1991) p. 167-186 in an article entitled “House dust-mite allergen”: A review by L. G. Arlian.

Both the Der-f and Der-p species are found throughout the world. In some areas, Der-f will be the sole Dermatophagoides species. In other areas Der-p will be the sole species. In still other areas, the two species are both present through, generally, one or the other will predominate.

One way to overcome these allergenic response has been to vacuum surfaces, such as carpets, that contain the dust mites and their faeces thoroughly and often, but that is both time consuming (i.e. has to be regularly done if one wants to make an allergenic free environment) and is very dependant on the efficiency of vacuum cleaner and filter bag used e.g. micron filter bag or 2-layer vacuum bags.

An alternative method of creating an allergen-free environment has been to denature the allergen, for example as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,526. The only effective method however of which we are aware is to apply tannic acid to the allergen. However, tannic acid can cause staining, and this is a particularly acute problem for light coloured carpets (e.g. white and light-beige carpets) and other textile surfaces as tannic acid leaves a deep brown stain.

Therefore, we have been looking for allergenic denaturants which will not stain susceptible surfaces such as carpets and still deactivate the allergen

We have discovered a number of allergen deactivants which are effective against both the Der-f and the Der-p species. Quite surprisingly, we have discovered that some of these deactivants are specific to the type of dust mite allergen being treated for example an effective Der-f allergen deactivants will not automatically work effectively as a Der-p allergen deactivant.

According to the invention there is provided a method for deactivating allergens derived from the Der-f and/or Der-p dust mite species, which comprises contacting the allergen with a deactivating effective amount of one or more of deactivants (herein after defined as the deactivant).

The deactivants effective against one or both of Der-f allergens and Der-p allergens are:

• • i) cedarwood oil,
  • ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride,
  • iii) aluminium chlorohydrate,
  • iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2,
  • v) polyquaternium-10
  • vi) silica gel,
  • vii) propylene glycol alginate,
  • viii) ammonium sulphate,
  • ix) hinokitiol,
  • x) L-ascorbic acid,
  • xi) “immobilised tannic acid”, (hereinafter defined)
  • xii) chlorohexidine,
  • xiii) maleic anhydride,
  • xiv) hinoki oil,
  • xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO₂,
  • xvi) diazolidinyl urea,
  • xvii) 6-isopropyl-m-cresol,
  • xviii) a compound of formula I
  • xix) the compound of formula II
  • xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200,
  • xxi) urea,
  • xxii) cyclodextrin,
  • xxiii) hydrogenated hop oil,
  • xxiv) polyvinylpyrrolidone,
  • xxv) N-methylpyrrolidone,
  • xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone,
  • xxvii) potassium thioglycolate, and
  • xxviii) glutaraldehyde

Deactivants (i) through (xx) are effective against both Der-f and Der-p allergens. Deactivants (xxi) through (xxvi) are effective against Der-f allergens only. Deactivants (xxvii) and (xxviii) are effective against Der-p allergens only.

A compound of formula I is commercially available as Aerosol OT.

The compound of formula II is commercially available as parsley camphor.

Hinoki oil is a mixture of thujan-3-one, 2-pinene, 3,5,7,3′,4′-pentahydroflavanone and 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-norcamphanone.

Hydrogenated Hop Oil is the potassium salt of tetrahydroiso humulinic acid (also known as reduced isomerised hop extract).

Propylene glycol alginate is

Chlorohexadine is 1,1′-hexamethylenebis [5-(4-chlorophenyl)]-biguanide.

Hinokitol is β-thujaplicin, a compound of the formula

Germall II is diazolidinylurea.

Thymol is 6-isopropyl-m-cresol.

Cedarwood oil contains α- and β-cedrene (ca 80%), cedrol (3-14%) and cedrenol. Other sesquiterpenes and some monoterpenes are also present.

Polyquaternium-10 is a polymeric quaternary ammonium salt of hydroxyethyl cellulose reacted with a trimethyl ammonium substituted epoxide commercially available as Polymer JR-125.

Silica gel is also known as colloidal silica or silicic acid and is commercially available as Kent.

“Immobilised tannic acid” is tannic acid on polyvinyl pyrrolidone beads. Immobilised Tannic Acid-was prepared as follows: 100 mg of tannic acid was dissolved in water; 50 mg of Polyclar 10 (ISP, Guildford Surrey) polyvinyl pyrrolidone beads were added and stirred for one hour; the beads were filtered off the solution and washed with a few mls of iced water until no colour was seen in the washings; they were then dried in the oven at 50° C.

The composite of silver chloride and TiO₂ is made up of 20% wt/wt AgCl on 80% TiO₂ 3-5 μm porous beads.

In compositions containing the deactivant, the deactivant is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 7%, preferably from 0.01% to 3%.

In methods for treating rugs and carpets to deactivate allergents, the amount of deactivant present is from about 16 gm to about 170 gm per 10 square meters, preferably about 32 gm per 10 square meters.

Preferably the deactivant is selected from

• • xiv) hinoki oil,
  • xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO₂,
  • xvi) diazolidinyl urea
  • xvii) 6-isopropyl-m-cresol,
  • xii) chlorohexidine,
  • xiii) maleic anhydride,
  • xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone and
  • xviii) a compound of formula I or II, defined above, and
  • xix) a compound of formula II, defined above.

Further according to the invention there is provided an aerosol composition containing.

• • i) cedarwood oil,
  • ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride,
  • iii) aluminium chlorohydrate,
  • iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2,
  • v) polyquaternium-10
  • vi) silica gel,
  • vii) propylene glycol alginate,
  • viii) ammonium sulphate,
  • ix) hinokitiol,
  • x) L-ascorbic acid,
  • xi) “immobilised tannic acid”, (hereinafter defined)
  • xii) chlorohexidine,
  • xiii) maleic anhydride,
  • xiv) hinoki oil,
  • xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO₂,
  • xvi) diazolidinyl urea,
  • xvii) 6-isopropyl-m-cresol,
  • xviii) a compound of formula I
  • xix) the compound of formula II
  • xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200,
  • xxi) urea,
  • xxii) cyclodextrin,
  • xxiii) hydrogenated hop oil,
  • xxiv) polyvinylpyrrolidone,
  • xxv) N-methylpyrrolidone,
  • xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone,
  • xxvii) potassium thioglycolate, and
  • xxviii) glutaraldehyde b) a propellant, and c) optionally, a solvent.

Preferably the amount of deactivant present in such a composition is from 0.01% to 7%, more preferably 0.01% to 3%,

Preferably the amount of propellant present in such a composition is from 4% to 50%, more preferably from 4% to 30%,

Preferably the amount of solvent present in such a composition is 0% to 99.95%, more preferably 0% to 90%, and most preferably from 20% to 90%.

Preferably the deactivant in such aerosol composition is selected from

• • hinoki oil,
  • a composite of AgCl with TiO₂,
  • diazolidinyl urea,
  • 6-isopropyl-m-cresol,
  • chlorohexidine,
  • maleic anhydride,
  • the sodium salt of anthraquinone, and
  • a compound of formula I or II defined above.

Preferably the propellant is selected from those commercially available, for example C_1-4 alkanes, chlorofluorocarbons and compressed gases such as nitrogen, air and carbon dioxide.

Preferably the solvent is selected from C_1-6 alcohols (e.g. ethanol) or water.

In addition, the compositions of this invention may also contain one or more of the following:

• • a fragrance, preferably in an amount of 0% to 5%, more preferably 0% to 2%;
  • an antimicrobial compound e.g. alkyldimethylbenzyl ammonium saccharinate, preferably in an amount of 0.01% to 1%;
  • a surfactant, e.g. Dow Corning 193 Surfactant, preferably in an amount of 0.01% to 1%;
  • a corrosion inhibitor, e.g. sodium nitrite, sodium benzoate, triethanolamine and ammonium hydroxide, preferably in an amount of 0.01% to 10%; and
  • a miticide, such as benzyl benzoate, pyrethroid pemethrin, d-allethrin and optionally a synergist such as piperonyl butoxide, preferably in an amount of 0.1% to 10%.

It has been found that deactivants of the invention have as effective allergen deactivating properties as tannic acid but without the drawback of staining.

The invention will now be illustrated by the following Examples.

EXAMPLES

The test procedure in Examples 1 to 55 is as follows and is known as the ELISA protocol.

The ELISA protocol for Der-f and Der-p has been developed as follows as a measure of denaturing property for denaturants.

ELISA Protocol 1

1. Dust is collected from Hoover™ vacuum cleaner bags and passed through a series of sieves down to 63 microns.

2. Clean petri dishes are labelled with the chemical to be tested (on the base). Three replicates are used for each treatment.

3. Filter paper is used to line each dish and 0.2 g of dust is added to each dish onto the filter paper. The lid (or base, as dishes are inverted) is replaced and the dish is shaken to disperse the dust evenly over the filter paper.

4. 2% aqueous solutions of deactivant were used except for the silver chloride composite where 0.05% was used instead. Immobilised tannic acid was used as a 1% dispersion. The hydrogenerated hop end was used at the 2% level (in the form of a 10% solution). Water-insoluble deactivants were emulsified with a sorbitone oleate surfactant (i.e. Tween). Hinokitol was used at 0.5% not 2%.

5. The dust is sprayed with the corresponding treatment, 2 sprays are required for sufficient coverage (1 spray=1.5 ml).

6. Leave uncovered at room temperature, in well aerated room, until filter paper is dry. This can take up to 4 hours.

7. Empty dust in epindorfs labelled according to treatment.

8. Add 1 ml of 5% Bovine Serum Albumen Phosphate Butter Saline-Tween BSA-PBS-T to each epindorf (5 times the weight of dust) (20 ml of BSA-PBS-T=1 g of BSA in 20 ml of PBS-T).

9. Leave overnight in a refrigerator.

10. Centrifuge for 5 minutes at 13,000 rpm.

11. Decant the supernatant into a new epindorf labelled according to treatment.

12. Centrifuge again for 5 minutes at 13,000 rpm.

13. Make up dilutions of 1:10 and 1:100 by adding 100 μl of neat solution to 900 μl of 1% BSA-PBS-T (1:10) This is repeated using-100 μl of 1:10 dilution and add to 900 μl of 1% BSA-PBS-T for 1:100 dilution.

ELISA Protocol 2 for Der-f and Der-p: Indoor Biotechnologies

1. Prepare samples and dilutions as in protocol

2. Prepare 500 ml of 50 mM carbonate/bicarbonate buffer by dissolving 0.795 g Na₂CO₃ and 1.465 g NaHCO₃ in c500 ml of distilled water. Check the pH is at 9.6. (This solution is kept in the refrigerator in a conical flask).

3. Monoclonal antibody (kept in the freezer) has to be added to the buffer using the following method, (1 μg per well; 11 ml is needed) applied to the ELISA plate

• • 11 ml of carbonate/bicarbonate buffer is added to the dispensing tray.
  • 11 μl of Der-f1 or Der-p1 monoclonal antibody

(Stored in freezer, epindorf in use is in the refrigerator) is added to the buffer. To ensure that all the antibody is removed from the tip, wash out the pipette tip by sucking up and down I the buffer solution, gently stirring to mix thoroughly.

4. Pipette 100 μl of the antibody solution into each well of the microtiter plate, cover with a plate sealer and leave overnight at 4° C.

5. Empty the plate by quickly inverting it over the sink, then dry by banging on a stack of paper towels.

6. Add 200 μl of wash buffer to each well: PBS/0/05% tween (PBS-T).

7. Repeat stages 5 and 6 once more (making a total of 2 washes).

8. Make sure all the wells are dry, then add 100 μl of 1% BSA-PBS-T. Replace the plate sealer and incubate for 1% at room temperature*.

9. Repeat steps-5 to 7-(2-washes)

10. *During the hour incubation period, prepare the allergen standards at dilutions between 125 and 1 μg/ml Der f 1 or Der p1:

• • Add 25 μl of allergen standard (kept in the refrigerator in polystyrene box) to 475 μl of 1% PBS-BSA-T and mix thoroughly—labelled ‘125’.
  • 250 μl of 1% PBS-BSA-T is added to 7 further epindorfs which are labelled 62.5, 31.25, 15.63, 7.61, 3.9, 1.95 and 0.98.
  • 250 μl is taken from the 1st epindorf (labelled 125) and transferred to the next (labelled 62.5). This is mixed thoroughly.
  • Using a new pipette tip, 250 μl is removed from epindorf labelled 62.5 and transferred to 31.25, this procedure is continued down to the 0.98 concentration (125, 62.5, 31.25, 15.63, 7.61, 3.9, 1.95, 0.98)
  • In total 475+(250×7)=2.3 ml: 0.023 g of BSA added to 2.3 ml of PBS-T.

11. Add 100 μl aliquots of the allergen sample to the plate along with the standard allergen samples for the reference curve in duplicate. The standards usually go in the first two columns on the left hand side, with the least concentrated on top. Incubate for 1 hour.

12. Follow stages 5 to 6, completing a total of 5 washes.

13. Pour 11 ml of 1% BSA-PBS-T (0.11 g of BSA to 11 ml of PBS-T) to the dispensing tray. Add 11 μl of the biotinylated monoclonal antibody (refrigerator) and mix thoroughly.

14. Pipette 100 μl into each well and incubate for 1 hour at room temperature.

15. Empty plate and wash as described in stage 12. (5 washes).

16. Add 11 μl of Streptavidin (freezer) to 11 ml of 1% BSA-PBS-T. Pipette 100 μl into each well and incubate for 30 minutes. Reserve any remaining solution in a vial.

17. Empty plate and wash as described in stage 12 (5 washes).

18. Make a solution of OPD, by putting the two tablets (in silver and gold foil) into 20 ml of distilled water (in a glass vial). Shake quite vigorously in the dark until the tablets have dissolved (Wrap the vial up either in tin foil or paper towel).

19. Add a small amount to the remaining solution from stage 16. Wait for a colour change (positive reaction). Add 200 μl to each well and incubate for a minimum of 30 minutes in the dark.

20. Read the plate at 450 nm/405 nm if filter not available.

Examples 1 to 26

The deactivants, as set out in the following table, were used against Der-f allergens according to the above procedure and the results are as given below. Tannic acid was used as a comparator. What was measured after treatment with deactivant and tannic acid was the amount of allergen remaining active after treatment. The ratio of amount of remaining active allergen after treatment with deactivant and tannic acid is also given.

TABLE
			Amount of	Ratio of remaining
			Allergen	active allergen
		Amount of Allergen	remaining active	after
		remaining active after	after tannic acid	Deactivant/Tannic
Example	Deactivant	deactivant treatment	treatment	Acid Treatment	Number
1	Urea	3750	1500	2.500	xxi
2	Polymeric dialdehyde	1325	550	2.409	xx
3	Cedarwood oil	1800	750	2.400	i
4	Cyclodextrin	3850	1700	2.265	xxii
5	hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride	4075	1800	2.264	ii
6	Aluminium chlorohydrate	1675	750	2.233	iii
7	1-propoxy-propanol-2	3950	1800	2.194	iv
8	Silica Gel (Kent)	2037.5	933.5	2.183	vi
9	polyquaternium-10 (Polymer JR-125)	4335	2000	2.168	v
10	Hydrogenated Hop Oil	1100	550	2.000	xxiii
11	Propylene glycol alginate	3175	1700	1.868	vii
12	Poly vinyl pyrrolidone	2450	1425	1.719	xxiv
13	Ammonium sulphate	2750	1700	1.618	viii
14	Hinokitol (0.5%)	3065	2000	1.533	ix
15	N-methyl pyrrolidone	1600	1175	1.362	xxv
16	L-Ascorbic Acid	2000	1500	1.333	x
17	Immobilised Tannic Acid	1550	1175	1.319	xi
18	Aerosol OT	1525	1175	1.298	xviii
19	Chlorohexidine	1412.5	1425	0.991	xii
20	Parsley Camphor	1225	1387.5	0.883	xix
21	Maleic anhydride	1312.5	1500	0.875	xiii
22	Anthraquinone sodium salt	1530	2000	0.765	xxvi
23	Hinoki oil	1025	1387.5	0.739	xiv
24	Composite of AgCl and TiO2	1025	1425	0.719	xv
25	Germall II	950	1387.5	0.685	xvi
26	Thymol	725	1387.5	0.523	xvii

Examples 27 to 47

The deactivants, as set out in the following table, were used against Der-p allergens according to the above procedure and the results are as given below. What was measured were the amount of allergens remaining after treatment with deactivant and the amount of allergens remaining after vacuuming with no deactivant treatment.

TABLE
		Amount of
		active Allergen
		remaining
		after deactivant
Example	Deactivant	treatment		Deactivant
			Amount of
			active Allergen
			remaining after
			no deactivant
			treatment but only
			vaccuming
1	Glutaraldehyde	816	3375	xxviii
2	Polymeric dialdehyde	2792	3375	xx
3	Cedarwood oil	3375	6000	i
4	hexadecyltrimethyl-	2863	4992	ii
	ammonium chloride
5	Aluminium chlorohydrate	978	4992	iii
6	1-propoxy-propanol-2	1233	4992	iv
7	Silica Gel (Kent)	1540	4992	vi
8	polyquaternium-10	5463	6250	v
	(Polymer JR-125)
9	Propylene glycol alginate	3781	6250	vii
10	Ammonium sulphate	2325	6250	viii
11	Potassium thioglycolate	3092	3375	xxvii
			Amount of
			Allergen
			remaining after
			no deactivant
			treatment
12	Hinokitol (0.5%)	2058	3375	ix
13	L-Ascorbic Acid	1438	5642	x
14	Immobilised Tannic Acid	1125	5642	xi
15	Aerosol OT	4494	5642	xviii
16	Chlorohexidine	2281	4450	xii
17	Parsley Camphor	2581	4450	xix
18	Maleic anhydride	783	4450	xiii
19	Hinoki oil	1644	3400	xiv
20	Composite of	1632	3400	xv
	AgCl and TiO2
21	Thymol	1500	3400	xvii

Examples 48-55

Further samples were tested as above and compared against tannic acid. The ratio of actives remaining after deactivant treatment and actives remaining after tannic acid treatment are given below:

		atio of actives
		remaining after
		deactivant treatment
		over those remaining
		after tannic acid
Example	Deactivant	treatment	Number
48	Germall II	1.5	vi
49	N-methyl pyrrolidone	4.0	xv
50	Hinoki Oil	4.0	iv
51	Silver chloride/TiO2	3.5	v
52	Thymol	4.0	vii
53	Chlorohexidine	3.0	ii
54	Maleic	1.0	iii
	anhydride
55	Glutaraldehyde	1.5	xviii

Examples 56-59

The following formulations can be made up as carrier compositions for use in an aerosol for deactivating Der-f and Der-p allergens.

Example 56

	Raw Ingredient Description
	By Weight	Item Classification	%
	Anhydrous Ethanol (SD	Solvent	79.646
	Alcohol 40)
	Alkyl dimethyl benzyl	Cationic Surfactant	0.106
	ammonium saccharinate
	Corrosion Inhibitor (I)		0.192
	Corrosion Inhibitor (II)		0.192
	Corrosion Inhibitor (III)		0.096
	Deionized Water	Water/Solvent	15.768
	Carbon Dioxide	Propellant	4.000
	TOTAL		100.000

Example 57

	Raw Ingredient
	Description by Weight	Item Classification	%
	Anhydrous Ethanol (SD	Solvent	*57.000
	Alcohol 40)
	Fragrance#17	Fragrance	0.0500
	Dow Corning 193	Surfactant	0.025
	Surfactant
	Corrosion Inhibitor (I)		0.100
	Corrosion Inhibitor (II)		0.100
	Deionized Water	Water/solvent	*14.725
	NP-40/Butane 40	Hydrocarbon	28.000
		propellant
	TOTAL		100.000
	*= May replace with 95% Ethanol (SD Alcohol 40) at 61.755% by weight and 9.970% by weight Deionized water

Example 58

	Raw Ingredient
	Description by Weight	Item Classification	%
	Anhydrous Ethanol (SD	Solvent	79.646
	Alcohol 40)
	Benzyl Benzoate - an	Active/ester	4.600
	acaricide
	Alkyl dimethyl benzyl	Cationic Surfactant	0.106
	ammonium saccharinate
	Corrosion Inhibitor (I)		0.192
	Corrosion Inhibitor (II)		0.192
	Corrosion Inhibitor (III)		0.096
	Deionized Water	Water/solvent	11.168
	Carbon Dioxide	Propellant	4.000
	TOTAL		100.000

Example 59

	Raw Ingredient
	Description by Weight	Item Classification	%
	Anhydrous Ethanol (SD	Solvent	*57.000
	Alcohol 40)
	Benzyl Benzoate	Active/ester	4.600
	Fragrance#17	Fragrance	0.0500
	Dow Corning 193	Surfactant	0.025
	Surfactant
	Corrosion Inhibitor (I)		0.100
	Corrosion Inhibitor (II)		0.100
	Deionized Water	Water/solvent	*10.125
	NP-40/Butane 40	Hydrocarbon	28.000
		propellant
	TOTAL		100.000
	*= May replace 95% Ethanol (SD Alcohol 40) at 61.755% by weight and 5.370% by weight Deionized water.

Claims

1. A spray device containing one or more of deactivants selected from i) cedarwood oil, ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, iii) aluminium chlorohydrate, iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2, v) polyquaternium-10, vi) silica gel, vii) propylene glycol alginate, viii) ammonium sulphate ix) hinokitiol, x) L-ascorbic acid, xi) immobilised tannic acid, xii) chlorohexidine, xiii) maleic anhydride, xiv) hinoki oil, xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO2, xvi) diazolidinyl urea, xvii) 6-isopropyl-m-cresol, xviii) a compound of formula I xix) the compound of formula II xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200, xxi) urea, xxii) cyclodextrin, xxiii) hydrogenated hop oil, xxiv) polyvinylpyrrolidone, xxv) N-methylpyrrolidone, xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone, and xxvii) potassium thioglycolate in an amount sufficient to deactivate Der-f and/or Der-p allergens.

2. A spray device containing one or more deactivants selected from i) cedarwood oil, ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, iii) aluminium chlorohydrate, iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2, v) polyquaternium-10, vi) silica gel, vii) propylene glycol alginate, viii) ammonium sulphate, ix) hinokitiol, x) L-ascorbic acid, xi) immobilised tannic acid, xii) chlorohexidine, xiii) maleic anhydride, xiv) hinoki oil, xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO2, xvi) diazolidinyl urea, xvii) 6-isopropyl-m-cresol, xviii) a compound of formula I xix) the compound of formula II xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200, xxi) urea, xxii) cyclodextrin, xxiii) hydrogenated hop oil, xxiv) polyvinylpyrrolidone, xxv) N-methylpyrrolidone, and xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone in an amount sufficient to deactivate Der-f allergens.

3. A spray device containing one or more deactivants selected from i) cedarwood oil, ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, iii) aluminium chlorohydrate, iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2, v) polyquaternium-10, vi) silica gel, vii) propylene glycol alginate, viii) ammonium sulphate, ix) hinokitiol, x) L-ascorbic acid, xi) immobilised tannic acid, xii) chlorohexidine, xiii) maleic anhydride, xiv) hinoki oil, xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO2, xvi) diazolidinyl urea, xvii) 6-isopropyl-m-cresol, xviii) a compound of formula I xix) the compound of formula II xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200, and xxvii) potassium thioglycolate in an amount sufficient to deactivate Der-p allergens.

4. A spray device according to claim 1 in which the deactivant is selected from xiv) hinoki oil, xv) a composite of AgCl with TiO2, xvi) diazolidinyl urea, xvii) 6-isopropyl-m-cresol, xii) chlorohexidine, xiii) maleic anhydride, xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone, xxviii) a compound of formula I, and xix) the compound of formula II.

5. A spray device according to claim 4 in which the deactivant is xvii) 6-isopropyl-m-cresol.

6. A spray device according to claim 1 in which the deactivant is x) L-ascorbic acid.

7. A spray device according to claim 1 in which the deactivant is xi) immobilised tannic acid.

8. A spray device according to any of claims 1, 5, 6 or 7 which additionally contains one or more of a fragrance, a surfactant, an antimicrobial agent, a corrosion inhibitor and a miticide.

9. A spray device according to any of claims 1, 5, 6 or 7 in which the deactivant is in an aqueous medium.

10. A spray device according to any of claims 1, 5, 6 or 7 which is an aerosol device containing the deactivant, a propellant and, optionally, a solvent.

11. A spray device according to claim 10 containing deactivant in an amount of from 0.01% to 7%, propellant in an amount from 0.05% to 3% and solvent in an amount of from 0% to 99.95%, all percentages being by weight.

12. A spray device according to claim 10 in which the propellant is selected from the group consisting of C1-4 alkanes and carbon dioxide.

13. A spray device according to claim 10 which comprises solvent selected from the group consisting of C1-6 alcohols, water and mixtures thereof.

14. A spray device according to claim 13 in which the solvent is ethanol.

15. A method for deactivating a Der-f and/or Der-p allergen comprising spraying the allergen with a deactivating effective amount of a liquid composition comprising one or more of deactivants selected from i) cedarwood oil, ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, iii) aluminium chlorohydrate, iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2, v) polyquaternium-10, vi) silica gel, vii) propylene glycol alginate, viii) ammonium sulphate, ix) hinokitiol, x) L-ascorbic acid, xi) immobilised tannic acid, xii) chlorohexidine, xiii) maleic anhydride, xiv) hinoki oil, xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO2, xvi) diazolidinyl urea, xviii) a compound of formula I xix) the compound of formula II xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200, xxi) urea, xxii) cyclodextrin, xxiii) hydrogenated hop oil, xxiv) polyvinylpyrrolidone, xxv) N-methylpyrrolidone, xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone, and xxvii) potassium thioglycolate.

16. A method for deactivating a Der-f allergen comprising spraying the allergen with a deactivating effective amount of a liquid composition comprising one or more deactivants selected from i) cedarwood oil, ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, iii) aluminium chlorohydrate, iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2, v) polyquaternium-10, vi) silica gel, vii) propylene glycol alginate, viii) ammonium sulphate, ix) hinokitiol, x) L-ascorbic acid, xi) immobilised tannic acid, xii) chlorohexidine, xiii) maleic anhydride, xiv) hinoki oil, xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO2, xvi) diazolidinyl urea, xviii) a compound of formula I xix) the compound of formula II xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200, xxi) urea, xxii) cyclodextrin, xxiii) hydrogenated hop oil, xxiv) polyvinylpyrrolidone, xxv) N-methylpyrrolidone, and xxvi) the sodium salt of anthraquinone.

17. A method for deactivating a Der-p allergen comprising spraying the allergen with a deactivating effective amount of a liquid composition comprising of one or more deactivants selected from i) cedarwood oil, ii) hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, iii) aluminium chlorohydrate, iv) 1-propoxy-propanol-2, v) polyquaternium-10, vi) silica gel, vii) propylene glycol alginate, viii) ammonium sulphate, ix) hinokitiol, x) L-ascorbic acid, xi) immobilised tannic acid, xii) chlorohexidine, xiii) maleic anhydride, xiv) hinoki oil, xv) a composite of AgCl and TiO2, xvi) diazolidinyl urea, xviii) a compound of formula I xix) the compound of formula II xx) a polymeric dialdehyde containing two or more of a recurring unit of the formula III where n=2 to 200, and xxvii) potassium thioglycolate.

18. A method according to claim 15 in which the deactivant is x) L-ascorbic acid.

19. A method according to claim 15 in which the deactivant is xi) immobilised tannic acid.

20. A method according to claim 15 in which the composition is an aqueous composition.

21. A method according to claims 15, 18, or 19 in which the composition additionally comprises one or more of fragrance, a surfactant, an antimicrobial agent, a corrosion inhibitor and a miticide.