New Ultrasensitive Test Developed To Detect Peanut Allergies
Scientists have developed a new peanut allergy test that they claim is more precise and reliable than traditional methods. The test can not only detect the allergy, it can also determine the intensity of a potential reaction.
When a patient experiences an allergic reaction to peanuts, the body releases an antibody protein known as immunoglobulin E (IgE), which binds to the peanut molecules and flushes them out of the system. This release of antibodies promotes the production of histamine in tissue cells, which can provoke a variety of allergic symptoms.
Symptoms of peanut allergy reaction can range from relatively mild to life threatening, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some patients develop skin reactions or digestive problems, while some experience severe swelling in the throat and constriction of airways. More severe cases require immediate intervention with an epinephrine injector.
Scientists at the University of Connecticut have developed a blood test that measures the amount of peanut allergen antibodies in the blood. The test requires only a few drops to make a determination of the allergy’s presence and intensity. A greater number of antibodies indicates a stronger allergic reaction, according to a UConn Today news story.
“A patient who has a serious allergy and gets exposed to an allergen protein will form antibodies in their body that should stay there for a while. Our theory is that the level of those antibodies can be used to predict how severe a patient’s allergy is at any one point in time,” said Professor James Rusling, a biomarker specialist and a co-author of the research.
While current clinical standard peanut allergy tests do measure the amount of IgE in the blood, researchers claim that other molecules can interfere with the results and lead to inaccurate diagnosis. The test developed by Rusling’s team screens more specifically for antibodies that bind to certain peanut protein fragments and carbohydrate residue.
A study published in Analyst involved injecting blood from patients with known peanut allergies into an array that pulled antibodies down onto the allergen samples. By connecting magnetic beads to the allergens, researchers were able to detect even the smallest concentrations of antibodies.
While the test only screens antibodies from a few known allergens, Rusling claims that future developments to the system could test for more than 20 allergens and provide even more selective results.
Currently, there is an ongoing debate over the role of carbohydrates in food allergies, which Rusling says merits further studies.
“Our hope is that this could be used as an analytical tool to investigate the actual biology of the allergic response to peanuts and other food items in general. People have noted that certain carbohydrates may be involved in allergies and we’d like to determine whether they are involved or not,” he said.
According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), three million Americans are allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, a number that tripled between 1997 and 2008.
Image credit: Peter Morenus/UConn