Hatred of dust mites gets Brussels company €100,000 in minutes

Brussels-based pharmaceuticals firm Domobios raised €100,000 by crowdfunding in only 18 minutes this week, to finance a new product against dust mites.

House dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) live in homes, particularly in beds, where they feed on the tiny flakes of shed skin. As if that doesn’t sound bad enough, the mites’ waste and exoskeletons of the mite are both triggers for allergic reactions.

Although the creatures (pictured), unlike fleas or bed bugs, do not come in contact with people, the allergies pose a health problem for millions of people. It is estimated that 75% of all respiratory allergies are caused by house dust mites. The mites are nearly microscopic but are ubiquitous: They have been found in the Antarctic as well as in the Mir Space Station.

Domobios’ product, Acar’Up, consists of spray that attracts the mites and a special pillow and mattress cover that traps them. After spraying the cover, the mites in the bed climb into the cloth, which can then be removed and laundered. The bed can then be vacuumed to remove any residue. The treatment can also be used on other household furnishings.

The manufacturers claim that the product – unlike all existing products – is non-toxic and has no side effects. It works by replicating the pheromones emitted by the mites to communicate with each other when the atmosphere is too dry, and they risk being unable to absorb enough moisture from the air to survive.

Photo courtesy CSIRO Scienceimage/Wikimedia