alpha-gal syndrome

alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), allergic condition in which the immune system reacts to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), a carbohydrate found in the tissues of most non-primate mammals and typically consumed in meat. AGS is initiated by a tick bite. Unlike many classic food allergies, which are triggered by proteins and produce symptoms within minutes, AGS features a notoriously delayed mechanism that causes systemic allergic reactions two to eight hours after consuming products that contain alpha-gal. This delay is...