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Food Allergens: Latest Molecular Advancements

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 24 April 2026 | Viewed by 166

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, No. 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang 330047, China
Interests: food allergy; peanut allergy; structure of allergens; hypoallergens; epitope identification; allergenicity; immunologic mechanism; immunotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
1. State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University, Nanjing Dong Lu 235, Nanchang 330047, China
2. Sino-German Joint Research Institute, Nanchang University, Nanjing Dong Lu 235, Nanchang 330047, China
Interests: food allergy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food allergies have shown a significant upward trend over the past three decades, and have always been an important issue in the field of global public health. Data from the World Allergy Organization (WAO) show that approximately 8% of children and 5% of adults worldwide are affected by allergies. As the material basis of food allergies, allergens have been discovered, identified, purified, and processed. Many studies have focused on structures and properties in order to research the mechanisms of food allergies and the possibility of desensitization. All these efforts on food allergens have focused on the protein molecules of allergens. In this Special Issue, “Food Allergens:Latest Molecular Advancements”, we recruit research and review articles focused on food allergens. This Special Issue will be dedicated to allergen molecules, concerning their identification, purification, characterization, and modification. All studies related to allergens, clarifying the structure–effect relationship of allergen molecules, the mechanisms of their interactions with Ig E from allergy patients, and the immunity reaction induced, are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Zhihua Wu
Dr. Anshu Yang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • food allergies
  • allergen
  • allergenicity
  • epitope
  • desensitization
  • immunity reaction
  • hypoallergen
  • Ig E binding
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 3399 KB  
Article
Adjuvant-Free Murine Models of Allergic Sensitization to the Major Soybean Allergen Gly m 4
by Ivan V. Bogdanov, Ekaterina I. Finkina, Alfia G. Kamaeva, Marina S. Krasilshchikova and Tatiana V. Ovchinnikova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11695; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311695 - 3 Dec 2025
Abstract
Gly m 4, a soybean PR-10 allergen, is known to trigger systemic allergic reactions. However, the intrinsic sensitizing potential of the allergen remains unclear. Adjuvant-free murine models of sensitization to Gly m 4 might help to investigate mechanisms of a soy allergy and [...] Read more.
Gly m 4, a soybean PR-10 allergen, is known to trigger systemic allergic reactions. However, the intrinsic sensitizing potential of the allergen remains unclear. Adjuvant-free murine models of sensitization to Gly m 4 might help to investigate mechanisms of a soy allergy and establish relevant in vivo platforms for developing novel allergen-specific immunotherapy strategies. BALB/c mice were sensitized to Gly m 4 via intraperitoneal (i.p.), subcutaneous (s.c.), or intranasal (i.n.) routes, with or without adjuvant (alum or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)). In order to assess sensitization, we evaluated levels of allergen-specific IgE, IgG1, IgG2a, systemic anaphylaxis, rat basophil (RBL) degranulation, and cytokine/chemokine profiles in mouse sera. I.n. exposure with or without LPS proved to be ineffective and did not elicit sensitization. I.p. and s.c. routes of sensitization with and without alum induced a Th2-skewed response, which was demonstrated by high levels of IgE and IgG1, systemic anaphylaxis, and IgE-mediated degranulation of RBL cells. Adjuvant-free i.p. administration led to a shift in cytokine production, with reduced levels of proinflammatory (IL-1α/IL-6) cytokines and increased levels of Th2-associated (IL-13/GM-CSF) ones. Thus, adjuvant-free murine models validated the intrinsic sensitizing capacity of Gly m 4. Moreover, Gly m 4 demonstrated similar immunogenic profiles to Bet v 1 in alum-based models. It is the first evidence that soybean Gly m 4 can induce in vivo allergic sensitization in mice without adjuvants, particularly via i.p. and s.c. routes. Established adjuvant-free murine models offer a relevant tool for studying soy allergy and developing targeted immunotherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Allergens: Latest Molecular Advancements)
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