Researchers have shown that the choice of extraction buffer used in shellfish allergen analysis dramatically alters the allergen profile that is detected, measured and ultimately used for diagnosis and risk assessment.
In an examination of allergens in black tiger prawns and white leg prawns, the study found that phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), one of the most commonly used extraction media in allergen research, produced extracts dominated by a small number of highly abundant allergens while failing to recover a broad range of others.
Key allergens including tropomyosin were underrepresented under some conditions despite overall allergen abundance appearing high. By contrast, denaturing extraction systems, particularly a urea-based buffer applied to boiled prawn tissue, generated a much more comprehensive allergen profile.
The study also identified up to 72 candidate allergenic proteins with strong evidence of allergenicity, the levels of which often varied substantially depending on extraction conditions. These findings may explain for inconsistencies between studies, diagnostic tests and sensitisation profiles reported around the world. The work reinforces the importance of standardised extraction methods and suggests that current allergen detection approaches may underestimate the diversity of shellfish allergens relevant to allergic consumers.
Reference: Iddagoda, et al. (2026) ‘Protein extraction strategies shape shellfish allergen landscapes: Implications for seafood safety, allergy diagnosis and risk management’, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 380, 153882. Available with Open Access at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2026.153882.
