title: Impact of heat processing on the detection of the major shellfish allergen tropomyosin in crustaceans and molluscs using specific monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: The major heat-stable shellfish allergen, tropomyosin, demonstrates immunological cross-reactivity, making specific differentiation of crustaceans and molluscs for food labelling very difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of allergen-specific monoclonal antibodies in differential detection of shellfish-derived tropomyosin in 11 crustacean and 7 mollusc species, and to study the impact of heating on its detection. Cross-reactive tropomyosin was detected in all crustacean species, with partial detection in molluscs: mussels, scallops and snails but none in oyster, octopus and squid. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that heating of shellfish has a profound effect on tropomyosin detection. This was evident by the enhanced recognition of multiple tropomyosin variants in the analysed shellfish species. Specific monoclonal antibodies, targetting the N-terminal region of tropomyosin, must therefore be developed to differentiate tropomyosins in crustaceans and molluscs. This can help in correct food labelling practices and thus protection of consumers.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Molecular Science, Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Sandip D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kamath
authors.forename: Anas M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdel Rahman
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komoda
authors.forename: Andreas L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lopata
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003296:Cooking; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003445:Crustacea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D008974:Mollusca / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D012758:Shellfish / Q000032:analysis*; D014335:Tropomyosin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014335:Tropomyosin
keywords: Allergen heat-treatment; Crustacean; IgE epitope recognition; Mollusc; Monoclonal antibodies; Seafood; Tropomyosin