Legumes, nuts, and seeds are among the most clinically relevant sources of plant-derived food allergens, playing a central role in IgE-mediated food allergy, anaphylaxis risk assessment, and component-resolved diagnostics (CRD). Their molecular characterization is essential in translational allergy research, immunotherapy development, and precision diagnostics.
Molecular Allergen Families
The most clinically relevant allergens are predominantly seed storage proteins, which are structurally stable and resistant to heat and gastrointestinal digestion, contributing to systemic allergic reactions:
- 2S albumins
- 7S vicilins (cupins)
- 11S legumins
Additional allergen groups include:
- Non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs): stable pan-allergens implicated in severe reactions in some populations.
- Profilins and PR-10 proteins: generally heat-labile, digestion-sensitive cross-reactive allergens, primarily associated with pollen–food allergy syndrome rather than stable seed storage proteins.
Clinically Relevant Allergen Components
Well-characterized diagnostic markers include:
Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3, Ara h 6 (peanut); Gly m 5, Gly m 8 (soybean); Cor a 9, Cor a 14 (hazelnut); Jug r 1 (walnut); Ana o 1, Ana o 3 (cashew). These molecules are widely used in CRD for improved patient stratification.
Key Research Applications & Reagents
- Recombinant allergen proteins for CRD and IgE profiling.
- Native purified seed proteins for IgE binding assays and immunoblotting.
- Synthetic peptides for epitope mapping.
- Standardized allergen extracts for functional assays (e.g., basophil activation tests).
- Multiplex cross-reactivity panels for pollen–food syndrome research.