Edible insects (EIs) are recognized as sustainable protein sources, but allergic reactions persist for consumers. European Commission’s approval of Tenebrio Molitor powder has introduced EIs to mainstream food products. The study explores the allergenic potential of EIs for populations sensitized to house dust mites, storage mites, and crustaceans due to shared protein structures.
Individuals with shellfish and mite allergies are at increased risk of allergic reactions due to cross-reactivity. Tropomyosin (TM), arginine kinase (AK), and troponin-C are common pan-allergens implicated in this process. Individuals sensitized to mites develop allergic responses to EIs from cross-reactive proteins. This study investigates the prevalence of EI sensitization and immunological mechanisms in the Tenerife tropical climate, with high exposure to House Dust Mites (HDM) and storage mites. This was well explained in a recent study published in the Nutrients journal.
The study examined 634 patients with Immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies in Tenerife. Participants underwent serological analysis using the ALEX2® MacroArray for 282 allergen IgE. Patients with IgE levels ≥ 0.3 kU/L to EI extracts were evaluated. 23.18% of sensitized individuals lacked IgE reactivity to pan-allergens. Tropomyosin was the main allergen in 63.76% of sensitized individuals.
95.66% of sensitized individuals reacted to mite allergens, while all respiratory allergy patients were sensitized to mites. 58% had both food and respiratory allergies, and 15.9% had food allergies alone. Seafood allergy affected 50% of food-symptomatic individuals, while respiratory allergies were present in 26.1% of patients who were EI-sensitized. Elevated IgE levels (median 532 IU/mL) were seen in 77.08% of individuals with a sensitized history and atopy. Locusta migratoria (Lm) was the most common allergen at 79.71%, followed by Acheta domesticus (Ad) at 73.18% and Tenebrio molitor (Tm) at 57.97%.
Sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein (8.69%) and myosin light chain (6.52%) showed additional sensitizations. Among 36 patients sensitized to EIs with respiratory allergies, all were also sensitized to at least one mite allergen. Eight mite allergens, particularly Der f2 and Der p 2, were identified in over 50% of these individuals.
Sensitization to tropomyosin showed a strong correlation with IgE reactivity to Blo t 10 and Der p 10, while arginine kinase had a weaker correlation with Der p 20. Only 6 of 138 individuals sensitized to EIs showed no reactivity to 17 tested mite allergens, suggesting mite sensitization may precede EI sensitization. Study supports mite-EI syndrome and highlights environmental allergen sensitization.
Inhalant exposure to mite allergens in Tenerife sensitized individuals to environmental irritants. Pan-allergens like TM and AK cause cross-reactivity, but 23% of patients show primary insect protein sensitization. The Acari Hypothesis proposes that mite pattern recognition receptors may bind environmental proteins that trigger allergic responses to non-homologous proteins in humans. A major limitation was the absence of oral food challenge data, which were essential to differentiate sensitization from true allergy and its clinical relevance.
Research suggests that EI sensitization is not just a byproduct of mite or shellfish allergies, but a distinct immunological condition. Recognizing and managing EI sensitization was crucial for public health amid growing entomophagy efforts. Future policies must enhance allergen labelling, develop region-based diagnostics, and investigate primary insect allergens to ensure safe consumption.
Reference: González-PĂ©rez R, Poza-Guedes P, Figueiras-RincĂłn MA, Colque-Bayona M, Sánchez-MachĂn I. The allergy crossroads of subtropical regions: mites, crustaceans, and the rise of edible insects. Nutrients. 2025;17(9):1405. doi:10.3390/nu17091405
