Plant Biotechnology Unit
at the IAM, BOKU
Research projects
Plant food allergies: Field to table strategies for reducing their incidence in Europe
(Acronym: SAFE)
Plant food allergies: Field to table strategies for reducing their incidence in Europe
(Acronym: SAFE)
Duration: 2000 - 2003
Supported by: European Community (FP5), Food, Nutrition and Health
Up to 70% of tree-pollen allergic patients tend to display allergic symptoms when eating
fruits from the Rosaceae family such as apples, pears, peaches, plums, apricots, cherries and
almonds. This is due to related allergens present in both pollen and fruits, which are
recognized by cross-reactive IgE-antibodies. The IgE-reactivity pattern is different in
patients from Northern and Middle Europe (mainly directed against homologous proteins to
the major birch pollen antigen Bet v 1) and from Southern Europe (mainly directed against
lipid-transfer proteins).
Using apple allergy as a model, the objective of this project is the reduction of the
incidence of fruit allergy in Europe by providing the agro-food industry with strategies
that ensure that high quality low allergen foods are available in the market place. Major
apple allergens will be characterized and their IgE-epitopes determined. Patient allergen
profiles will be established in respect to different geographic areas and linked to mild
and severe symptomatology. A number of apple cultivars (including local and widely distributed)
will be screened for their content of allergens and their IgE-binding capacities by the use
of sera from well-defined patient groups across Europe. The impact of agronomic conditions and
environmental factors on the allergen level will be investigated, as well as the influence of
post harvest treatment and processing procedures on the allergen load. Innovative
biotechnological methods will be established to work towards an apple low in or free of the
major apple allergen Mal d 1.
Involved Researchers at the IAM
- - Margit Laimer da Câmara Machado
- - Helene Pühringer
-
Department of General and Experimental Pathology, Univ. of Vienna, Vienna, A (Coordination)
- Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK
- CLB Amsterdam, Dep. of Allergy, Amsterdam, NL
- CPRO Wageningen, Wageningen, NL
- Fundacion Hospital Alcorcon, Alcorcon, E
- Rauch Fruit juices, Rankweil, A
- CSR-Pampryl, La Courneuve, F
- University Medical Center, Utrecht, NL
- Norfolk Fruit Growers Ltd., Norfolk, UK
- CLB Amsterdam, Dep. of Allergy, Amsterdam, NL
Rev.1.0 by Siegfried Huss