Adverse reactions to foods are one of the most controversial and confusing areas in clinical immunology. The Federal Register in 1983 estimated 15% of the population, amounting to approximately 34 million people, may be allergic to some food ingredients. Millions of dollars have been spent on unproven diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for food allergies. Until recently very little of the scientific literature addressed this health concern. Soy, milk, wheat, peanut, and egg have proven to be the offending food in approximately 90% of children with documented adverse food reactions. Because soy proteins are being utilized increasingly in food products, the potential for sensitization and adverse reactions is also increasing. The purpose of this project is to: 1) determine the predominate allergens in soy protein, and 2) characterize immunologically- mediated adverse reactions to these proteins. The immune response to soy proteins in patients with soy hypersensitivity diagnosed by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) will be assessed by in vitro analyses of their sera. The soy proteins will be identified and purified by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, gel filtration, fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and sequence analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), immunoblotting and monoclonal antibodies will be used to characterize the immune response to these antigens. Five-year follow-up studies in this project are designed to evaluate the clinical course and significance of soy hypersensitivity reactions. The study also addresses the relevance of cross-reacting antigens among soy and the rest of the legumes. By studying adverse reactions to soy protein, one of the major causes of food hypersensitivity reactions, scientific information concerning antigen identification, characterization and the immunologic response, can be applied to investigations into adverse reactions in other major food groups.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29AI026629-04
Application #
3454734
Study Section
Immunological Sciences Study Section (IMS)
Project Start
1989-04-01
Project End
1994-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Little Rock
State
AR
Country
United States
Zip Code
72205
Burks, A W; Cockrell, G; Connaughton, C et al. (1995) Epitope specificity of the major peanut allergen, Ara h II. J Allergy Clin Immunol 95:607-11
Burks, A W; Cockrell, G; Connaughton, C et al. (1994) Epitope specificity and immunoaffinity purification of the major peanut allergen, Ara h I. J Allergy Clin Immunol 93:743-50
Dorion, B J; Burks, A W; Harbeck, R et al. (1994) The production of interferon-gamma in response to a major peanut allergy, Ara h II correlates with serum levels of IgE anti-Ara h II. J Allergy Clin Immunol 93:93-9
Helm, R M; Brenner, R J; Williams, L W et al. (1994) Isolation of the 36-kD German (Blattella germanica) cockroach allergen using fast protein liquid chromatography. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 103:59-66
Burks, A W; Casteel, H B; Fiedorek, S C et al. (1994) Prospective oral food challenge study of two soybean protein isolates in patients with possible milk or soy protein enterocolitis. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 5:40-5
Helm, R M; Burks, W; Williams, L W et al. (1993) Identification of cockroach aeroallergens from living cultures of German or American cockroaches. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 101:359-63
Burks, A W; Williams, L W; Connaughton, C et al. (1992) Identification and characterization of a second major peanut allergen, Ara h II, with use of the sera of patients with atopic dermatitis and positive peanut challenge. J Allergy Clin Immunol 90:962-9
Burks, A W; Williams, L W; Thresher, W et al. (1992) Allergenicity of peanut and soybean extracts altered by chemical or thermal denaturation in patients with atopic dermatitis and positive food challenges. J Allergy Clin Immunol 90:889-97
Burks, A W; Sampson, H A (1992) Diagnostic approaches to the patient with suspected food allergies. J Pediatr 121:S64-71
Burks, A W; Williams, L W; Helm, R M et al. (1991) Identification of a major peanut allergen, Ara h I, in patients with atopic dermatitis and positive peanut challenges. J Allergy Clin Immunol 88:172-9

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