Insights into tree nut and sesame consumption from a cohort of 80 peanut‐allergic children.
Peanut allergy is increasing in prevalence in the US according to reports [1] and has become a global concern. Sensitization to tree nuts is common with reported rates of up to 86% for multi-nut sensitization with increasing age [2] [3]. In addition, peanut allergy has been associated with an increased risk of sesame sensitization and allergy [4]. Patients' attitudes towards tree nut and sesame consumption can be variable following a diagnosis of peanut allergy and have not previously been examined.
Chemically modified peanut extract shows increased safety while maintaining immunogenicity.
BACKGROUND: Peanuts are most responsible for food-induced anaphylaxis in adults in developed countries. An effective and safe immunotherapy is urgently needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunogenicity, allergenicity and immunotherapeutic efficacy of a well characterized chemically modified peanut extract (MPE) adsorbed to Al(OH)3. METHODS: Peanut extract (PE) was modified by reduction and alkylation. Using sera of peanut allergic patients, competitive IgE-binding assays and mediator release assays were performed. The immunogenicity of MPE was evaluated by measuring activation of human PE-specific T-cell lines and the induction of PE-specific IgG in mice. The safety and efficacy of MPE adsorbed to Al(OH)3 was tested in two mouse models by measuring allergic manifestations upon peanut challenge in peanut allergic mice. RESULTS: Compared to PE, the IgE-binding and capacity to induce allergic symptoms of MPE was lower in all patients. PE and MPE displayed similar immunogenicity in vivo and in vitro. In mice sensitized to PE, the threshold for anaphylaxis (drop in BT) upon subcutaneous challenge with PE was 0.01 mg, while at 0.3 mg MPE no allergic reaction occurred. Anaphylaxis was not observed when PE and MPE were fully adsorbed to Al(OH)3 . Both PE and MPE + Al(OH)3 showed to be efficacious in a model for immunotherapy. CONCLUSION: In our studies an Al(OH)3 adsorbed MPE showed reduced allergenicity compared to unmodified PE, while the efficacy of immunotherapy is maintained. The preclinical data presented in this study supports further development of modified peanut allergens for IT.
Identification of almond (Prunus dulcis) vicilin as a food allergen.
Almond is one of the tree nuts listed by US FDA as a food allergen source. A food allergen identified with patient sera has been debated to be the 2S albumin or the 7S vicilin. However, neither of these proteins has been defined as a food allergen. The purpose of this study was to clone, express, and purify almond vicilin and test whether it is a food allergen. Western blot experiment was performed with 18 individual sera from patients with double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical almond allergy. The results showed that 44% of the sera contained IgE antibodies that recognized the recombinant almond vicilin, indicating that it is an almond allergen. Identifying this and additional almond allergens will facilitate the understanding of the allergenicity of seed proteins in tree nuts and their cross-reactivity.
The INC and Save The Children Join Forces to Empower the Nuts For A Healthier World Project
Over the last few months, the INC has been asking people all over the world to share the #NutsForAHealthierWorld video to raise awareness of the cause. So far, the publication has reached over 40,000 shares and now, Save The Children will turn those shares into physical aid.
Both partners established that every share of the video would be equal to one euro, which is the cost of a nutritional treatment of one child for one day. In this regard, the aim of the cooperation is to raise the same amount of money as shares and so, having now reached 40,000 shares, that would mean €40,000 of nutritional treatment that the NGO could send 40,000 days' worth of treatment to children in Mauritania, South Sudan and Bangladesh.
Besides the cooperation with the global NGO, Nuts For a Healthier World is embracing its members to sum up and help spread the word. If you would like to learn more and get involved, visit the campaign's site.
The INC and Save The Children Join Forces to Empower the Nuts For A Healthier World Project
Over the last few months, the INC has been asking people all over the world to share the #NutsForAHealthierWorld video to raise awareness of the cause. So far, the publication has reached over 40,000 shares and now, Save The Children will turn those shares into physical aid.
Both partners established that every share of the video would be equal to one euro, which is the cost of a nutritional treatment of one child for one day. In this regard, the aim of the cooperation is to raise the same amount of money as shares and so, having now reached 40,000 shares, that would mean €40,000 of nutritional treatment that the NGO could send 40,000 days' worth of treatment to children in Mauritania, South Sudan and Bangladesh.
Besides the cooperation with the global NGO, Nuts For a Healthier World is embracing its members to sum up and help spread the word. If you would like to learn more and get involved, visit the campaign's site.
The INC and Save The Children Join Forces to Empower the Nuts For A Healthier World Project
Over the last few months, the INC has been asking people all over the world to share the #NutsForAHealthierWorld video to raise awareness of the cause. So far, the publication has reached over 40,000 shares and now, Save The Children will turn those shares into physical aid.
Both partners established that every share of the video would be equal to one euro, which is the cost of a nutritional treatment of one child for one day. In this regard, the aim of the cooperation is to raise the same amount of money as shares and so, having now reached 40,000 shares, that would mean €40,000 of nutritional treatment that the NGO could send 40,000 days' worth of treatment to children in Mauritania, South Sudan and Bangladesh.
Besides the cooperation with the global NGO, Nuts For a Healthier World is embracing its members to sum up and help spread the word. If you would like to learn more and get involved, visit the campaign's site.
13th Asian Congress of Nutrition
The theme of the ACN is “Nutrition and Food Innovation for Sustained Well-Being”. So, the goal of the congress is to promote nutrition and food innovation and to encourage scientific interchange among food, nutrition and health researchers and professionals in Asia and worldwide. The ACN can also be a place for young nutrition students and researchers to meet and discuss with great researchers and great leaders in the world of nutrition. More information: https://acn2019.org/
2019 Today's Dietitian Spring Symposium
EC Meeting of the Market Access Working Group on SPS Issues
At the SPS MAWG, information from stakeholders (Member States, EU businesses, technical experts) is gathered and shared to prevent problems, seek solutions and ensure a coordinated approach to improve market access conditions for EU exporters.
Representatives of the European Commission (DG TRADE, DG AGRI, DG SANTE) gave a report on the last WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee held on November 1-2, 2018, in Geneva, the recent high level visit to Taiwan, the working group and seminar with Korea, the state of works on harmonized certificates, and the implementation of Free Trade Agreements. In addition, different issues related to priority markets, such as the state of play of USA and Mexico, the implementation of CETA, the preparation of the EU-Vietnam FTA implementation, the EU-Indonesia FTA negotiations, and the low risk food products and e-certification in China, among others, were discussed.
During the meeting, representatives of European associations addressed specific problems and concerns to the Commissioners. The European Livestock and Meat Trading Union (UECBV) explained the impact of African swine fever on meat exports. The EU Fish Processors and Traders Association (AIPCE-CEP) gave an overview on EU trade interests and challenges. Finally, the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organizations-General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (COPA-COGECA) presented the priority markets and trade issues for olive oils.
EC Meeting of the Market Access Working Group on SPS Issues
At the SPS MAWG, information from stakeholders (Member States, EU businesses, technical experts) is gathered and shared to prevent problems, seek solutions and ensure a coordinated approach to improve market access conditions for EU exporters.
Representatives of the European Commission (DG TRADE, DG AGRI, DG SANTE) gave a report on the last WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Committee held on November 1-2, 2018, in Geneva, the recent high level visit to Taiwan, the working group and seminar with Korea, the state of works on harmonized certificates, and the implementation of Free Trade Agreements. In addition, different issues related to priority markets, such as the state of play of USA and Mexico, the implementation of CETA, the preparation of the EU-Vietnam FTA implementation, the EU-Indonesia FTA negotiations, and the low risk food products and e-certification in China, among others, were discussed.
During the meeting, representatives of European associations addressed specific problems and concerns to the Commissioners. The European Livestock and Meat Trading Union (UECBV) explained the impact of African swine fever on meat exports. The EU Fish Processors and Traders Association (AIPCE-CEP) gave an overview on EU trade interests and challenges. Finally, the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organizations-General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (COPA-COGECA) presented the priority markets and trade issues for olive oils.