IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF MAJOR PEANUT ALLERGENS (IN CHINA) WITH IGE-BINDING PROPERTY

Peanut allergens have not been studied in China. This study aimed to investigate (1) whether there are differences in the relative amounts of major peanut allergens between the Chinese peanut varieties and the American, and (2) the effect of cooking methods on peanut allergenicity. The allergenic property of raw peanuts and peanut preparations was assessed by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The relative contents of the major peanut allergens were quantified by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis densitometry. For results, Ara h 1 and Ara h 3 were major peanut allergens in China. The amounts of Ara h 1 and Ara h 3 in peanut varieties differ significantly and were both lower than the American varieties. The immunoglobulin E (IgE)-binding ability of different processed peanuts to IgE was not significantly different. Therefore, peanut varieties may induce different amounts of allergens. The relative lower contents of Ara h 1 and Ara h 3 may lead to the lower prevalence of peanut allergy.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Because of its nutritional and rheological properties, peanut is used in a wide range of different foods, and peanut allergy represents an important health problem. It is essential to identify the compounds of peanut allergens and to study their characteristics in order to explore approaches for the therapies and to breed the nonallergenic peanut seed.     

Investigation on sequential extraction of peanut allergens for subsequent analysis by ELISA and 2D gel electrophoresis

A two-step sequential extraction method of peanut proteins was proposed with the aim to investigate the protein composition and allergen content of peanut samples. The extraction procedure reported is fully compatible with subsequent analysis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) as well as 2D gel electrophoresis (2D PAGE). This sequential extraction method was used to study three different peanut varieties and three different types of food processing. Peanuts were analysed for total protein content and the extraction efficiency of raw and processed peanuts was determined. The total protein content of the three peanut varieties was found to be comparable, but their extraction efficiency varies. The peanut extracts were characterised by employing three different ELISA test kits specific to either the allergens Ara h 1 or Ara h 2, or to soluble peanut proteins. The content of both Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 differed in the raw peanut extracts of the three varieties. However, thermal processing resulted in much larger changes in detectability. Blanching significantly increases the detectability of Ara h 2, whereas Ara h 1 detection remains almost unchanged. After roasting a clear decrease of detectability was observed for both Ara h 1 and Ara h 2, although the effect is more severe for Ara h 1. 2D PAGE was employed to compare the protein profiles and abundances of peanut extracts. Statistically relevant differences were observed for the two different protein fractions obtained by using the described method, showing the relevance of this two-step sequential extraction method.     

Boiling peanut Ara h 1 results in the formation of aggregates with reduced allergenicity

Scope : Roasting rather than boiling and Maillard modifications may modulate peanut allergenicity. We investigated how these factors affect the allergenic properties of a major peanut allergen, Ara h 1. Methods and results : Ara h 1 was purified from either raw (N‐Ara h 1) or roasted (R‐Ara h 1) peanuts. Boiling (100°C 15 min; H‐Ara h 1) resulted in a partial loss of Ara h 1 secondary structure and formation of rod‐like branched aggregates with reduced IgE‐binding capacity and impaired ability to induce mediator release. Glycated Ara h 1 (G‐Ara h 1) formed by boiling in the presence of glucose behaved similarly. However, H‐ and G‐Ara h1 retained the T‐cell reactivity of N‐Ara h 1. R‐Ara h 1 was denatured, comprised compact, globular aggregates, and showed no evidence of glycation but retained the IgE‐binding capacity of the native protein. Conclusion : Ara h 1 aggregates formed by boiling were morphologically distinct from those formed by roasting and had lower allergenic activity. Glycation had no additional effect on Ara h 1 allergenicity compared with heating alone. Taken together with published data on the loss of Ara h 2/6 from boiled peanuts, this supports the hypothesis that boiling reduces the allergenicity of peanuts.     

中国花生致敏蛋白的识别

我国对花生过敏方面的研究很少。本实验利用中国常用花生品种识别鉴定了中国主要的致敏蛋白,比较了国内外花生品种致敏蛋白相对含量的差异,期望找到中国花生过敏发病率较低的原因,为临床食物过敏患者的治疗和低过敏花生品种的培育提供理论依据。研究结果表明:Ara h1和三条Ara h3多肽是中国主要的致敏蛋白,并发现了Ara h1的亚基,分子量为58kD的多肽。Ara h1和Ara h3的相对含量各品种之间差异显著,并且低于国外花生品种。因此中国花生主要致敏蛋白相对含量低可能是导致中国花生过敏发病率较低的主要原因。     

加工方式和蛋白提取方法对花生蛋白致敏性的影响

加工方式影响花生蛋白的致敏性。本实验系统的研究了中国传统花生制品(水煮和油炸花生)和美国常食用的烘烤花生致敏性的差异,并比较了不同蛋白提取缓冲溶液对花生致敏蛋白提取效率的影响。结果表明:不同花生制品在不同的缓冲溶液中蛋白提取效率不同,水煮和油炸并没有较烘烤方式降低致敏蛋白的数量,而降低花生蛋白的致敏性。因此加工方式并不是导致中国花生过敏发病率低的主要原因。     

Allergenicity of roasted peanuts treated with a non-human digestive protease

Peanut allergy is a severe and lifelong type of food allergy triggered by allergenic proteins and peptides in peanuts. This study investigated the effects of ultrasound-assisted alcalase treatment on the concentrations of major allergenic proteins (Ara h 1 and Ara h 2) in roasted peanut kernels and the allergenicity of treated peanut extracts. Peanut kernels were sonicated for 1 h in buffer solution, incubated with different amount of alcalase for various time, then vacuum dried. The variations of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 contents in soluble and insoluble portions of peanuts treatments were evaluated by sandwich ELISA and SDS-PAGE, respectively. The in vitro IgE-binding capacity of treated peanut extracts was determined by a competitive inhibition ELISA using pooled plasma of 10 peanut allergic patients. Samples with lower in vitro IgE-binding were used for human skin prick tests (SPTs) in peanut allergic individuals. Results indicate that alcalase digestion of sonicated peanuts significantly increased protein solubility while decreasing Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 concentrations in both soluble and insoluble portions of peanuts relative to untreated peanuts. The maximum reductions of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 levels were obtained following 3 hour digestion with alcalase at concentrations of 4.54 and 6.05 U/100 g. Samples obtained under these conditions showed the lowest in vitro IgE-binding and caused the least allergic response in human SPTs. The current study suggests that the allergenic potential of peanuts could be reduced by postharvest processing such as ultrasound-assisted enzymatic treatment of peanuts kernels.     

花生过敏原在加工中的变化

简述了花生中主要的过敏原Arah1、Arah2、Arah3和Arah4的一般特征及其所存在的与IgE结合的表位特征,详细介绍了焙烤、风干、水煮和煎炸等加热方法及酶解、研磨、发芽和压榨等加工工艺对花生过敏原的影响,为开发无过敏或低过敏性花生制品提供了一定的科学依据。     

质谱法分析烘焙对花生过敏原Ara h 1潜在致敏性的影响

为研究烘焙对花生过敏原Ara h 1潜在致敏性的影响,采用高离液序列盐溶液从鲜花生和烘焙花生中提取总蛋白,通过十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析烘焙前后蛋白条带变化情况,并对其中的花生主要过敏蛋白Ara h 1条带进行质谱和Swiss-Model模型分析。十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳结果显示,烘焙花生蛋白出现了大分子聚合物条带以及较多弥散状蛋白条带,说明烘焙过程中蛋白质会发生聚集,同时也可能发生降解。对鲜花生Ara h 1条带的质谱分析结果显示,检测出70 条肽段,覆盖率达到79.2%;而烘焙后其中40 条肽段未能检出,但新增1 条肽段,且覆盖率降至43.9%。全部71 个肽段涉及到Ara h 1的18 个过敏原线性表位,酶解后鲜花生中检出16 个过敏原线性表位被破坏,烘焙花生中仅发现12 个被破坏。结论：烘焙加工会破坏蛋白质高级结构,掩盖了部分酶切位点,减少了酶解对过敏原线性表位的破坏,这可能是导致烘焙加工后Ara h 1致敏性强于未加工样品的原因。     

Isolation and characterization of natural Ara h 6: evidence for a further peanut allergen with putative clinical relevance based on resistance to pepsin digestion and heat

Peanut allergy is a significant health problem because of its prevalence and the potential severity of the allergic reaction. The characterization of peanut allergens is crucial to the understanding of the mechanism of peanut allergy. Recently, we described cloning of the peanut allergen Ara h 6. The aim of this study was isolation and further characterization of nAra h 6. We purified nAra h 6 from crude peanut extract using gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. The preparation was further characterized by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) with subsequent immunoblotting. Stability of nAra h 6 was studied by an in vitro digestibility assay as well as by resistance against thermal processing. Sequencing of nAra h 6 identified the N-terminal amino acid sequence as MRRERGRQGDSSS. Further results clearly demonstrated stability of nAra h 6 against pepsin digestion and heating. Immunoglobulin G (IgE) binding analysis and its biological activity shown by RBL 25/30-test of natural Ara h 6 supported the importance of this peanut allergen. Investigation of nAra h 6 revealed evidence for a further peanut allergen with putative clinical relevance based on resistance to pepsin digestion and heat.     

Enzymatic treatment of peanut kernels to reduce allergen levels

This study investigated the use of enzymatic treatment to reduce peanut allergens in peanut kernels as affected by processing conditions. Two major peanut allergens, Ara h 1 and Ara h 2, were used as indicators of process effectiveness. Enzymatic treatment effectively reduced Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 in roasted peanut kernels by up to 100% under optimal conditions. For instance, treatment of roasted peanut kernels with α-chymotrypsin and trypsin for 1–3 h significantly increased the solubility of peanut protein while reducing Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 in peanut kernel extracts by 100% and 98%, respectively, based on ELISA readings. Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 levels in peanut protein extracts were inversely correlated with protein solubility in roasted peanut. Blanching of kernels enhanced the effectiveness of enzyme treatment in roasted peanuts but not in raw peanuts. The optimal concentration of enzyme was determined by response surface to be in the range of 0.1–0.2%. No consistent results were obtained for raw peanut kernels since Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 increased in peanut protein extracts under some treatment conditions and decreased in others.     

Mitigation of Major Peanut Allergens by Pulsed Ultraviolet Light

Peanut allergy represents one of the most severe IgE-mediated reactions with food, but to date, the only effective way to prevent peanut allergy is total avoidance. If allergens could be mitigated during food processing before a product reaches the consumer, this would substantially lessen the food allergy problem. The efficacy of pulsed ultraviolet light (PUV), a novel food processing technology, on reducing peanut allergens, was examined. This study revealed for the first time that PUV was also capable of deactivating Ara h 2, the most potent allergenic protein of peanut. Protein extracts from raw and roasted peanuts were treated for 2, 4, and 6?min and peanut butter slurry was treated for 1, 2, and 3?min in a Xenon Steripulse XL 3000? PUV system. The distance from the central axis of the lamp was varied at 10.8, 14.6, and 18.2?cm. The SDS?CPAGE showed a reduction in the protein band intensity for Ara h 1, Ara h 2, and Ara h 3 at the energy levels ranging from 111.6 to 223.2?J/cm². Reduction of the protein band intensity for peanut allergens increased with treatment time but decreased with increased distance from the PUV lamp. The ELISA for peanut extracts and peanut butter slurry showed a reduction in IgE binding of up to 12.9- and 6.7-folds, respectively, compared to control.     

Peanut Allergy,Peanut Allergens,and Methods for the Detection of Peanut Contamination in Food Products

ABSTRACT: Attention to peanut allergy has been rising rapidly for the last 5 y, because it accounts for the majority of severe food‐related anaphylaxis, it tends to appear early in life, and it usually is not resolved. Low milligram amounts of peanut allergens can induce severe allergic reactions in highly sensitized individuals, and no cure is available for peanut allergy. This review presents updated information on peanut allergy, peanut allergens (Ara h1 to h8), and available methods for detecting peanuts in foods. These methods are based on the detection of either peanut proteins or a specific DNA fragment of peanut allergens. A summary of published methods for detecting peanut in foods is given with a comparison of assay formats, target analyte, and assay sensitivity. Moreover, a summary of the current availability of commercial peanut allergen kits is presented with information about assay format, target analyte, sensitivity, testing time, company/kit name, and AOAC validation.     

阴离子交换层析法分离纯化花生主要过敏原Ara h1的研究

Ara h1蛋白是花生的主要过敏原蛋白。本研究从天然的花生提取花生蛋白质,通过硫酸铵分级沉淀及阴离子交换层析法纯化花生主要过敏原Ara h1。通过聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分析蛋白纯度,结合免疫印迹实验对Ara h1免疫活性进行鉴定。结果表明：采用阴离子交换层析法纯化出的Ara h1纯度达到90%以上。得率为23.1%。免疫印迹实验表明,此方法纯化出来的Ara h1仍具有免疫原性,能跟花生过敏病人血清特异结合。     

A two-site monoclonal antibody immunochromatography assay for rapid detection of peanut allergen Ara h1 in Chinese imported and exported foods

Food allergen labeling has not yet been implemented in China. Therefore, a gold immunochromatography assay (GICA) was developed using two monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against the peanut allergen Ara h1. The GICA was specific for standard peanut samples with a sensitivity of 10 ng/ml. Peanut protein traces extracted from 124 food products imported and exported by China Customs were easily and rapidly detected by GICA. 68 food samples originally labeled as containing peanuts were positive for Ara h1 and 54 food samples labeled as not containing peanuts were negative for Ara h1, indicating that the labels from the manufacturers were accurate. However, 2 food samples labeled as not containing peanuts tested positive for Ara h1. The present GICA provides a fast, simple, semi-quantitative method for the determination of peanut allergens in foods. This detection system can be used to ensure the safety of food imported and exported by China Customs.     

Digestion of peanut allergens Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3, and Ara h 6: A comparative in vitro study and partial characterization of digestion‐resistant peptides

Scope : There are differences in stability to pepsin between the major allergens in peanut; however, data are from different reports using different digestion models. This study provides a comprehensive comparison of the digestibility of the major peanut allergens. Methods and results : Peanut allergens Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3 and Ara h 6 were incubated with pepsin to mimic the effect of gastric digestion. Samples were analyzed using SDS‐PAGE. To further investigate resistance to digestion, Ara h 2 was additionally subjected to digestion with trypsin and residual peptides were characterized. Ara h 1 and Ara h 3 were rapidly hydrolyzed by pepsin. On the contrary, Ara h 2 and Ara h 6 were resistant to pepsin digestion, even at very high concentrations of pepsin. In fact, limited proteolysis could only be demonstrated by SDS‐PAGE performed under reducing conditions, indicating an important role for the disulfide bridges in maintaining the quaternary structure of Ara h 2 and Ara h 6. Trypsin digestion of Ara h 2 similarly resulted in large residual peptides and these were identified. Conclusion : Ara h 2 and Ara h 6 are considerably more stable towards digestion than Ara h 1 and Ara h 3.     

脂质过氧化物对花生过敏原致敏性的影响

目的 阐明加工过程中脂质过氧化物对花生过敏蛋白Ara h 1结构和过敏原性的影响.方法 通过十二烷基硫酸钠聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳技术,圆二色谱法和内源荧光光谱法研究不同脂质过氧化物[2,2-偶氮二(2-甲基丙基咪)二盐酸盐(2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropanimidamide)dihydrochlorid...     

Enzymatic treatment of peanut butter to reduce the concentration of major peanut allergens

This study investigated the effects of enzymatic treatment of peanut butter on two‐major peanut allergens (Ara h 1 and Ara h 2). Home‐made and commercial peanut butter samples were treated with alpha‐chymotrypsin, trypsin or the combination of these enzymes and incubated at room temperature for 24 h or at 37 °C for 3 h. Treated peanut butter samples were sampled weekly for evaluation of total soluble proteins and extractable Ara h 1/Ara h 2. Data show that 1:1 alpha‐chymotrypsin: trypsin at 0.04% of enzyme‐to‐peanut butter ratio resulted in near complete reduction of extractable Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 respectively. Treatment of peanut butter with a combination of trypsin and alpha‐chymotrypsin resulted in a decrease in IgE‐binding, suggesting that enzymatic treatment has the potential to reduce the allergenicity. However, clinical tests are needed to confirm any reduction in allergenic potential. The amount of water used to disperse enzyme did not have significant effect on allergen reduction but affected the consistency and colour of treated products, especially when the amount of water added was above 5% of peanut butter weight.     

Polyphenol oxidase/caffeic acid may reduce the allergenic properties of peanut allergens

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) catalyzes the oxidation of tyrosine residues of proteins and, therefore, their cross‐linking. Previously we demonstrated that cross‐links produced by peroxidase (POD), which also catalyzes tyrosine oxidation, led to a reduction in the allergenic properties of peanut allergens. 11 We postulated in this study that PPO can also reduce the allergenic properties by cross‐linking the allergens. Because caffeic acid, a phenolic compound, can cross‐link proteins, its effect on peanut allergens was also examined. In the experiments, peanut extracts were treated with and without PPO, PPO/caffeic (pH 8, 37 °C for 1 h) and caffeic acid (pH 10.5, overnight), respectively. The samples were then analyzed for cross‐links and IgE binding by SDS‐PAGE, Western blots, and competitive inhibition ELISA. Results showed that, in all cases, cross‐links and a decrease of the levels of two peanut major allergens, Ara h 1 and Ara h 2, were observed. Of the three treatments, PPO/caffeic was the most effective in reducing IgE binding or the allergenic properties of peanut allergens. The availability of tyrosine residues was also demonstrated in a POD‐treated system, using a monoclonal antibody against dityrosine. We concluded that PPO/caffeic acid reduced the allergenic properties of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 by cross‐linking and decreasing the levels of allergens. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Peanut Allergy: Characteristics and Approaches for Mitigation

Peanut allergy has garnered significant attention because of the high sensitization rate, increase in allergy, and severity of the reaction. Sufficiently reliable therapies and efficient mitigating techniques to combat peanut allergy are still lacking. Current management relies on avoiding peanuts and nuts and seeds with homologous proteins, although adverse events mostly occur with accidental ingestion. There is a need for hypoallergenic peanut products to protect sensitized individuals and perhaps serve as immunotherapeutic products. Alongside traditional practices of thermal and chemical treatment, novel processing approaches such as high‐pressure processing, pulsed ultraviolet light, high‐intensity ultrasound, irradiation, and pulsed electric field have been performed toward reducing the immunoreactivity of peanut. Covalent and noncovalent chemical modifications to proteins also have the tendency to alter peanut allergenicity. Enzymatic hydrolysis seems to be the most advantageous technique in diminishing the allergenic potential of peanut. Furthermore, the combined processing approach (hurdle technologies) such as enzymatic hydrolysis followed by, or in conjunction with, roasting, high pressure and heat, ultrasound with enzymatic treatment, or germination have shown a significant reduction of peanut immunoreactivity and may emerge as useful techniques in reducing the allergenicity of peanut and other foods. This study represents our current knowledge about the alterations in allergenic properties of peanut via different processing mechanisms as well as evaluating its future potential, geographical based data on increasing sensitization, clinical relevance, eliciting dose, and current management of peanut allergy. Furthermore, the molecular characteristics and clinical relevance of peanut allergens have been discussed.     

High-pressure microfluidisation-induced changes in the antigenicity and conformation of allergen Ara h 2 purified from Chinese peanut

BACKGROUND: Peanut allergy is one of the most serious food allergies, and Ara h 2 is one of the most important peanut allergens as it is recognised by serum immunoglobulin E from more than 90% of peanut‐allergic individuals. Dynamic high‐pressure microfluidisation has been widely used in food processing as a new technology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high‐pressure microfluidisation on the antigenicity and structure of Ara h 2. Extracted peanut allergen Ara h 2 was treated under a continuous pressure array of 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 MPa. Immunoreactivity was measured by indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with rabbit polyclonal antibodies. Secondary structure was analysed by circular dichroism. Surface hydrophobicity and sulfhydryl groups were assessed via fluorescence and UV absorption spectra respectively. RESULTS: High‐pressure microfluidisation treatment decreased the antigenicity of peanut allergen Ara h 2, changed its secondary structure and increased its UV absorption intensity and surface hydrophobicity. CONCLUSION: The change in conformation contributed to the decrease in antigenicity of Ara h 2, and the spatial conformation of peanut allergen Ara h 2 plays a critical role in its antigenicity. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry