title: Peanut protein in household dust is related to household peanut consumption and is biologically active.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peanut allergy is an important public health concern. To understand the pathogenesis of peanut allergy, we need to determine the route by which children become sensitized. A dose-response between household peanut consumption (HPC; used as an indirect marker of environmental peanut exposure) and the development of peanut allergy has been observed; however, environmental peanut exposure was not directly quantified.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to explore the relationship between reported HPC and peanut protein levels in an infant's home environment and to determine the biological activity of environmental peanut.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peanut protein was quantified in wipe and dust samples collected from 45 homes with infants by using a polyclonal peanut ELISA. Environmental peanut protein levels were compared with peanut consumption assessed by using a validated peanut food frequency questionnaire and other clinical and household factors. Biological activity of peanut protein in dust was assessed with a basophil activation assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a positive correlation between peanut protein levels in the infant's bed, crib rail, and play area and reported HPC over 1 and 6 months. On multivariate regression analysis, HPC was the most important variable associated with peanut protein levels in the infant's bed sheet and play area. Dust samples containing high peanut protein levels induced dose-dependent activation of basophils in children with peanut allergy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have shown that an infant's environmental exposure to peanut is most likely to be due to HPC. Peanut protein in dust is biologically active and should be assessed as a route of possible early peanut sensitization in infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Helen A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Brough
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; Immunoallergology Department, Coimbra University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal; Gulbenkian Programme for Advanced Medical Education, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandra F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makinson
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Penagos
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alick C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Science, School of Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Abdel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Douiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adam T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Du Toit
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Turcanu
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Allergy, MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma, Division of Asthma, Allergy and Lung Biology, King's College London and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Gideon.lack@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lack
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010367:Arachis / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004032:Diet; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006794:Household Articles; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D004391:Dust; D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: BAT; Basophil activation test; ELISA; FFQ; Food frequency questionnaire; HPC; Household peanut consumption; Peanut; allergy; basophil activation test; biological activity; dust; environment; sensitization