House dust mite (Der p 10) and crustacean allergic patients may react to food containing Yellow mealworm proteins.
SCOPE
Due to the imminent growth of the world population, shortage of protein sources for human consumption will arise in the near future. Alternative and sustainable protein sources (e.g. insects) are being explored for the production of food and feed. In this project, the safety of Yellow mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L.) for human consumption was tested using approaches as advised by the European Food Safety Authority for allergenicity risk assessment.


METHODS AND RESULTS
Different Yellow mealworm protein fractions were prepared, characterised, and tested for cross-reactivity using sera from patients with an inhalation or food allergy to biologically related species (House dust mite (HDM) and crustaceans) by immunoblotting and basophil activation. Furthermore, the stability was investigated using an in vitro pepsin digestion test. IgE from HDM- and crustacean allergic patients cross-reacted with Yellow mealworm proteins. This cross-reactivity was functional, as shown by the induction of basophil activation. The major cross-reactive proteins were identified as tropomyosin and arginine kinase, which are well known allergens in arthropods. These proteins were moderately stable in the pepsin stability test.


CONCLUSION
Based on these cross-reactivity studies, there is a realistic possibility that HDM- and crustacean allergic patients may react to food containing Yellow mealworm proteins.
['Verhoeckx|Kitty C M|KC|', 'van Broekhoven|Sarah|S|', 'den Hartog-Jager|Constance F|CF|', 'Gaspari|Marco|M|', 'de Jong|Govardus A H|GA|', 'Wichers|Harry J|HJ|', 'van Hoffen|Els|E|', 'Houben|Geert F|GF|', 'Knulst|André C|AC|']
D000818:Animals D003429:Cross Reactions D003445:Crustacea D005503:Food Additives D006801:Humans D006967:Hypersensitivity D019476:Insect Proteins D008925:Mites D013712:Tenebrio
House dust mite Crustaceans Yellow mealworm Risk assessment Cross-reactivity Food allergy