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. 2025 Jan 9;15(1):1466.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83645-4.

IgE-based analysis of sensitization and cross-reactivity to yellow mealworm and edible insect allergens before their widespread dietary introduction

Majsiak Emilia  1 , Choina Magdalena  2   3 , Gromek Weronika  4 , Wykrota Julia  5 , Kozłowska Danuta  6 , Swadźba Jakub  6 , Cukrowska Bożena  7 , Kowal Krzysztof  2   3
Affiliations

IgE-based analysis of sensitization and cross-reactivity to yellow mealworm and edible insect allergens before their widespread dietary introduction

Majsiak Emilia et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The European Commission authorized the use of dried yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor - TM) as a food ingredient under Regulation EU 2021/882. As TM emerges as an important allergen source, sensitization and allergy to TM in various populations need investigation. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of sensitization to TM before its introduction as a food ingredient in Poland, as well as checking the occurrence of co-sensitivity to TM and other invertebrate allergenic extracts and molecules. This analysis was performed using serum allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) results in 6,173 individuals using the ALEX2 test to detect sensitivity to TM and other related allergens. A total of 4.3% of the study population had sIgE to TM extract, with 0.7% of those individuals being mono-sensitized to TM. Sensitization to TM was most commonly associated with a positive response to house cricket and migratory locust allergens. sIgE antibodies against TM significantly more commonly (p < 0.001) co-occurred with sIgE against other invertebrate allergens. Patients with sIgE against TM were most likely sensitised to tropomyosins (49.1% of patients), Niemann-Pick C2 protein (43.8%), group 5/21 allergen (38.6%), class III chitinases (37.1%), and cysteine proteases (34.1%). Based on the serum asIgE levels to TM prior to this ingredient being introduced as a food in Poland, we hypothesised that this primary sensitization may be associated with invertebrate allergies. Our analysis showed that sensitisation to TM was most commonly associated with a positive reaction to house dust mites and shrimp tropomyosins. Therefore, we speculate that individuals allergic to shrimp should exercise caution when consuming foods containing TM.

Keywords: Tenebrio molitor; Component resolved diagnostics (CRD); Food allergy; Sensitization profile; Yellow mealworm.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: Emilia Majsiak reports a relationship with EMMA MDT sp. z o.o. that includes: board membership, employment, and equity or stocks. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The number of tropomyosin molecules (out of those evaluated with the ALEX2 test, e.g., rAni s 3, nPen m 1, rPer a 7, rBlo t 10, and rDer p 10) present concurrently with a positive test result against Tenebrio molitor.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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