Employment of proteomic and immunological based methods for the identification of catalase as novel allergen from banana.

Diagnostic reagents based on food allergen extracts often lack sufficient sensitivity. The introduction of well characterized food allergens in molecular allergy diagnosis has been recognized as valid approach to circumvent unstandardized allergen extracts. Banana fruit (Musa acuminata) is a well-established allergen source which besides six characterized allergens, contains unidentified IgE reactive proteins whose clinical relevance remains undefined. By employment of a combinatorial peptide ligand library (CPLL) methodology with 2-D PAGE, mass spectrometric and 2-D immunoblot analysis, a novel allergen from banana fruit was detected in banana as catalase. A recombinant homologue of natural catalase was produced, isolated and biochemically characterized. The recombinant protein showed IgE reactivity in 7 out of 13 tested patients with suspected allergy to banana in immunoblot. Novel banana fruit allergens should be added as components to allergen-microarrays for the diagnosis and the monitoring of banana allergy.

CONCLUSIONS

By employment of CPLL methodology with 2-D PAGE, mass spectrometric and 2-D immunoblot analysis catalase from banana fruit is identified as a novel allergen, with proposed designation as Mus a 7. IgE reactive recombinant Mus a 7 was produced and should be included in a component-resolved allergy diagnosis.