Scope: Insects are a potentially environmentally friendly alternative dietary protein source to supplement mammalian and fish sources, but potential allergenic risks are a concern. Consumption of insects may result in anaphylaxis and has been implicated in cross-reactivity with shellfish. Many allergenic proteins may be involved in cross-reactivity, including tropomyosin (TM). The uniformity of TM cross-reactivity among edible insects is unknown. Candidate edible insects for variability in shellfish IgE cross-reactivity are investigated. Methods and results: Selected insects and known related sources of allergens are extracted and probed by immunoblot with sera/plasma from patients sensitized to insects or shellfish. Quantification of TM in these extracts is performed using mass spectrometry. A comparison of the quantity of TM and the IgE reactivity of TM from these insects is performed. Distinct patterns of IgE cross-reactivity are observed with three insect species showing diminished reactivity. This pattern is not consistent with the amount of TM present in these insects, or with overall sequence homology. Conclusion: Insects display a diversity of TM-associated IgE reactivity. It is likely that minor sequence features and/or structural effects are primarily responsible. Additionally, it is demonstrated that some insect species may present significantly less IgE cross-reactivity to shrimp than do others.

RATIONALE: We have previously shown (Garvey JACI-IP 2017) that some highly selected, ''high-dose tolerant'' peanut allergic children can achieve sustained unresponsiveness to peanut in a home-based induction program. It is not known whether this unsreponsiveness is permanent, when it could be defined as genuine tolerance. METHODS: Telephone survey of ten children from the published paper who achieved desensitization (2/10) or sustained unsresponsiveness (8/10) and been advised to keep eating peanut 3 times a week indefinitely. Followup interval ranged from 1.4 to 3.5 years. RESULTS: Only three children (30%) are eating peanut three or more times a weeks, as advised. Two children (20%) have completely stopped consuming peanut by choice. Five children (50%) eat peanuts less than the advised 3 times/week (including one who just eats food with precautionary labelling about peanut). No subject reported interval reactions to peanut either eaten deliberately, as advised, or accidentaly. All parents report to feel safer since they have completed this programm. Just two of the children still carry their epinephrine pens as they have other food allergies (egg and tree nut respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with post program advice to continue consumption of peanut was very erratic, but no allergic reactions occurred in any subject, irrespective of either compliance or accidental exposure to peanut. This suggests that true tolerance has been achieved by home based exposure to peanut in a select group of ''high-dose tolerant'' peanut allergic children. More formal prospective studies are needed to confirm this finding.

The recently published reference genome of peanuts enables a detailed molecular description of the allergenic proteins of the seed. We used LC-MS/MS to investigate peanuts of different genotypes to assess variability and to better describe naturally occurring allergens and isoforms. Using relative quantification by mass spectrometry, minor variation of some allergenic proteins was observed, but total levels of Ara h 1, 2, 3, and 6 were relatively consistent among 20 genotypes. Previously published RP-HPLC methodology was used for comparison. The abundance of three Ara h 3 isoforms were variable among the genotypes and contributed to a large proportion of total Ara h 3 where present. Previously unpublished hydroxyproline sites were identified in Ara h 1 and 3. Hydroxylation did not vary significantly where sites were present. Peanut allergen composition was largely stable, with only some isoforms displaying differences between genotypes. The resulting differences in allergenicity are of unknown clinical significance but are likely to be minor. The data presented herein allow for the design of targeted MS methodology to allow the quantitation and therefore control of peanut allergens of clinical relevance and observed variability.

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RATIONALE: Seasonality of allergies to pollen and fungal spores may provoke obsession in sensitive individuals fearing the upcoming season. The leading psychologic profiles were assessed in patients having confirmed seasonal allergy. METHODS: 44 patients, 24 females and 20 males having seasonal allergy were administered the MMPI ( Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). Most were city inhabitants (55% of females and 75% of males) and most worked indoors (83% of males and 75% of females). Patients were seen at the National Pirogov Memorial Medical University in Vinnystsya, Ukraine. RESULTS: Among men, 41.67% had a leading psychotype on the 6th scale (rigidity, paranoia (Ra)) and over 25% had high scores on the 1st scale (hypochondriasis (Hs)). Among women, no leading psychotype was seen, but 25% had simultaneous increase on three scales: the 2nd scale (depression (D)), the 3rd scale (hysteria (Hy)) and the 7th scale (psychasthenia (Pf)). CONCLUSIONS: Men with pollen allergy have rigidity and paranoia characterized by accumulation of negative emotions, inability to solve problems with somatization in order to obtain secondary benefits. Women with pollen allergy show a complex psychotype with increased depression, hysteria and psych asthenia. Psychotherapeutic support and psychologic pharmacotherapy should be considered in pollen allergic patients.