Lab Manager | Run Your Lab Like a Business

News

Purified Cashew Proteins Lend Insight into Allergic Reactions

Research provides better understanding of how the proteins might cross react with other allergens and potentially how to treat the allergy

by American Chemical Society
Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
5:00

cashewsIsolating key cashew proteins will help us better understand allergies to the nuts.Photo credit: Femto, Wikimedia CommonsIt's well known that peanuts can cause severe reactions in people who are allergic, but research suggests that the risk of developing a life-threatening reaction could be higher for those allergic to cashews. Now scientists have come up with a fast and simple method to purify the three main cashew allergens to help better grasp how they work and their effects on people. Their report appears in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Allergies to tree nuts and peanuts can cause mild symptoms, such as hives and itchy eyes. But some people who are allergic experience anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that includes shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, and other symptoms. Scientists have identified three proteins associated with cashew allergies, but no one had isolated them with a high degree of purity or characterized them. Doing so, however, would help identify which specific allergen people react to, how the proteins might cross react with other allergens, and potentially how to treat the allergy. Harry J. Wichers and colleagues decided tackle this challenge. 

Related article: New Study Indicates Why Children Are Likelier to Develop Food Allergies

Get training in Chemical Hygiene and earn CEUs.One of over 25 IACET-accredited courses in the Academy.
Chemical Hygiene Course

The researchers used three different methods—precipitation, ultrafiltration, and gel filtration chromatography—to purify the three main cashew allergens. They then identified the proteins' subunits. Additionally, testing found a difference in how allergens bound to immunoglobulin E, an allergen-binding antibody, in Dutch children and American adults, shoring up previous suggestions that geography and age can play a role in allergies. Researchers say further studies can build on these results to analyze allergen structure, cashew varieties, and the stability of proteins during processing. 

The authors acknowledge funding from the Technology Foundation STW, Stichting Voedselallergie, Siemens Healthcare, HAL Allergy, Intersnack Nederland B.V., ALK-Abello B.V. and the Nederlands Anafylaxis Netwerk.