title: Production and analysis of recombinant tree nut allergens.
abstract: Allergic reactions to tree nuts are a growing global concern as the number of affected individuals continues to rise. Unlike some food allergies, tree nuts can cause severe reactions that persist throughout life. The tree nuts discussed in this review include those most commonly responsible for allergic reactions: cashew, almond, hazelnut, walnut, pecan, Brazil nut, pistachio, and chestnut. The native allergenic proteins derived from tree nuts are frequently difficult to isolate and purify and may not be adequately represented in aqueous nut protein extracts. Consequently, defined recombinant allergens have become useful reagents in a variety of immunoassays aimed at the diagnosis of tree nut allergy, assessing cross-reactivity between various nuts and other seeds, mapping of IgE binding epitopes, and analyzing the effects of the food matrix, food processing, and gastric digestion on allergenicity. This review describes the approaches that can be used for the production of recombinant tree nut allergens and addresses key issues associated with their production and downstream applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA. Electronic address: lwillison@bio.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Leanna N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Willison
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Shridhar K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sathe
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA. Electronic address: roux@bio.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Kenneth H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D021184:Nut Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology*; D009754:Nuts / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: Allergy; Epitope; Food allergy; Recombinant allergen; Tree nut