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Removal and Replacement of Endogenous Ligands from Lipid-Bound Proteins and Allergens
Published on: February 24, 2021
Allergen Stability in Food Allergy: A Clinician's Perspective
Larissa Koidl1, Salvatore Alessio Gentile1, Eva Untersmayr2
1Institute of Pathophysiology and Allergy Research, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, E3Q, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
Purpose Of Review:
The globally rising food allergy prevalence is associated with the urgent need for new disease prevention methods, efficient treatment, and reliable risk assessment methods for characterization of food allergens. Due to inter-individual variations in the digestive system, food allergens are degraded to a different extent in each person. Food processing also influences allergen digestion.
Recent Findings:
In this review, we provide an overview of the digestive system with focus on relevance for food allergy. Main food proteins causing allergic reactions are evaluated, and the combined role of food processing and digestion for allergen stability is highlighted. Finally, clinical implications of this knowledge are discussed. Recent literature shows that allergen digestibility is dependent on food processing, digestive conditions, and food matrix. Digestion affects proteins allergenicity. It is currently not possible to predict the immunogenicity of allergens solely based on protein stability.
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