Competitive inhibition ELISA for quantification of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2, the major allergens of peanuts.
Allergies to peanuts are becoming an increasingly important health problem as a result of the persistence and severity of the reaction in allergic individuals. Because no treatment currently is available, avoidance is the only option for peanut-allergic individuals. Avoidance of an abundant and often disguised food such as peanuts, however, is very difficult; therefore, competitive inhibition ELISAs were developed to detect and quantitate each of the major peanut allergens, Ara h 1 and Ara h 2. Under optimal conditions for each assay, the sensitivity of the Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 detection assays were 12 and 0.5 ng/mL, respectively. These assays were primarily devised to effectively compare the levels of Ara h 1 and Ara h 2 in a wide variety of peanuts or peanut products but can also be used to identify cross-reactive antigens. The method is simple and rapid, requiring only one allergen-specific antibody and, therefore, could be adapted specifically to detect the presence of these individual allergens in different foods.
Schmitt
David A
DA
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA.
Cheng
Hsiaopo
H
Maleki
Soheila J
SJ
Burks
A Wesley
AW
D055516:2S Albumins, Plant; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D010367:Arachis / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012015:Reference Standards; D013045:Species Specificity
D055516:2S Albumins, Plant; D000485:Allergens; D000906:Antibodies; D052179:Antigens, Plant; C500889:Ara h 1 protein, Arachis hypogaea; C500890:Ara h 2 allergen, Arachis hypogaea; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins