Food allergen detection by mass spectrometry: the role of systems biology

Abstract

Food allergy prevalence is rising worldwide, motivating the development of assays that can sensitively and reliably detect trace amounts of allergens in manufactured food. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a promising alternative to commonly employed antibody-based assays owing to its ability to quantify multiple proteins in complex matrices with high sensitivity. In this review, we discuss a targeted MS workflow for the quantitation of allergenic protein in food products that employs selected reaction monitoring (SRM). We highlight the aspects of SRM method development unique to allergen quantitation and identify opportunities for simplifying the process. One promising avenue identified through a comprehensive survey of published MS literature is the use of proteotypic peptides, which are peptides whose presence appears robust to variations in food matrix, sample preparation protocol, and MS instrumentation. We conclude that proteotypic peptides exist for a subset of allergenic milk, egg, and peanut proteins. For less studied allergens such as soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts, we offer guidance and tools for peptide selection and specificity verification as part of an interactive web database, the Allergen Peptide Browser (http://www.AllergenPeptideBrowser.org). With ongoing improvements in MS instrumentation, analysis software, and strategies for targeted quantitation, we expect an increasing role of MS as an analytical tool for ensuring regulatory compliance.

A Critical Comparison between Flow-through and Lateral Flow Immunoassay Formats for Visual and Smartphone-Based Multiplex Allergen Detection

“…Currently, a drawback in allergen detection is that no certified, standardized reference materials are commercially available, and antigen standards and blank matrices need to be prepared in-house [45]. The influence of food processing on the protein conformation of allergens can affect their detectability [46], but this was not explicitly investigated in this study, as the focus was comparing the performance of the same antibodies applied in different immunoassay formats.…”

Nano-Biosensing Platforms for Detection of Cow’s Milk Allergens: An Overview

“…These are based on antigen-antibody interactions including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) [37,38], dipstick tests [39], and lateral flow devices (LFD) [40]. Furthermore, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [41,42] and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) [26] platforms are mostly explored alternatives of antibody-based assays. Research efforts are directed for highly specific, sensitive, and rapid detection of allergens from the processed milk products [43][44][45].…”

“…This review presents development of aptamers, biosensors, aptasensors for determination of allergen concentration in food matrix. The existing reviews mainly cover development of aptamers for allergens [24], biosensors for food allergens [25], confirmatory methods for allergens [26], and aptasensors for food analysis [27]. The present review is specifically designed to consider the cow milk allergens that can cause life-threatening anaphylactic reactions.…”

Portable Multiplex Optical Assays

“…Portable devices could also significantly improve public heath by monitoring the ingredients in food products, particularly allergens. The current methods to detect hidden allergens in food products include surface plasmon resonance, electrochemical immunosensors, PCR, and mass spectrometry . Despite their high sensitivities, these conventional techniques are complex and need bulky equipment.…”