Scientific Opinion on development needs for the allergenicity and protein safety assessment of food and feed products derived from biotechnology

Allergic to bureaucracy? Regulatory allergenicity assessments of novel food: Motivations, challenges, compromises, and possibilities

New sources of proteins are essential to meet the demands of the growing world population and evolving food trends. Assessing the allergenicity of proteins in novel food (NF) poses a significant food safety regulatory challenge. The Codex Alimentarius Commission presented an allergenicity assessment protocol for genetically modified (GM) foods, which can also be adapted for NF. Since no single laboratory test can adequately predict the allergenic potential of NF, the protocol follows a weight-of-evidence approach, evaluated by experts, as part of a risk management process. Regulatory bodies worldwide have adopted this safety protocol, which, among other things, promotes global harmonization. This review unravels the reliability and various motivations, terms, concepts, and approaches of allergenicity assessments, aiming to enhance understanding among manufacturers and the public. Health Canada, Food Safety Commission JAPAN, and Food Standards Australia New Zealand were surveyed, focusing on the European Food Safety Authority and the US Food Safety Administration for examples of scientific opinions regarding allergenicity assessments for novel and GM foods, from 2019 to 2023. According to our findings, current regulatory allergenicity assessments for NF approval primarily rely on literature reviews. Only a few of the NF assessments proactively presented additional tests. We recommend conducting bioinformatic analyses on NF when a panel of experts deems that there is insufficient prior scientific research.

Research gaps and future needs for allergen prediction in food safety

The allergenicity and protein risk assessments in food safety are facing new challenges. Demands for healthier and more sustainable food systems have led to significant advances in biotechnology, the development of more complex foods, and the search for alternative protein sources. All this has increased the pressure on the safety assessment prediction approaches anchored into requirements defined in the late 90's. In 2022, the EFSA's Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms published a scientific opinion focusing on the developments needed for allergenicity and protein safety assessments of new products derived from biotechnology. Here, we further elaborate on the main elements described in this scientific opinion and prioritize those development needs requiring critical attention. The starting point of any new recommendation would require a focus on clinical relevance and the development of a fit-for-purpose database targeted for specific risk assessment goals. Furthermore, it is imperative to review and clarify the main purpose of the allergenicity risk assessment. An internationally agreed consensus on the overall purpose of allergenicity risk assessment will accelerate the development of fit-for-purpose methodologies, where the role of exposure should be better clarified. Considering the experience gained over the last 25 years and recent scientific developments in the fields of biotechnology, allergy, and risk assessment, it is time to revise and improve the allergenicity safety assessment to ensure the reliability of allergenicity assessments for food of the future.

Molecular characterization and allergenicity assessment of different samples of Mung Bean

Legumes represent a promising nutritional alternative source of proteins to meat and dairy products. Additionally, Novel Foods (Regulation EU 2015/2283) can help meet the rising protein demand. However, despite their benefits, emerging allergenicity risks must be considered. The aim of this work is the molecular characterization of the Novel Food Mung bean protein isolate for allergenicity prediction with High Resolution Mass Spectrometry analysis. The assessment of the allergenicity was evaluated in silico by comparing protein sequences of the Novel Food with other known legume allergens, using bioinformatic databases. The results highlighted similarity higher than 60 % of the protein structure of Mung bean with two known allergens of soybean and pea. Furthermore, enzymatic hydrolysis effects on allergenic potential was evaluated by immunoblotting analysis using sera of patients allergic to legumes. The protein hydrolysates obtained showed a high nutritional quality and a reduced allergenic potential, making them suitable for hypoallergenic food formulations.

Green Biologics: Harnessing the Power of Plants to Produce Pharmaceuticals

Plants are increasingly used for the production of high-quality biological molecules for use as pharmaceuticals and biomaterials in industry. Plants have proved that they can produce life-saving therapeutic proteins (Elelyso™-Gaucher's disease treatment, ZMapp™-anti-Ebola monoclonal antibodies, seasonal flu vaccine, Covifenz™-SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particle vaccine); however, some of these therapeutic proteins are difficult to bring to market, which leads to serious difficulties for the manufacturing companies. The closure of one of the leading companies in the sector (the Canadian biotech company Medicago Inc., producer of Covifenz) as a result of the withdrawal of investments from the parent company has led to the serious question: What is hindering the exploitation of plant-made biologics to improve health outcomes? Exploring the vast potential of plants as biological factories, this review provides an updated perspective on plant-derived biologics (PDB). A key focus is placed on the advancements in plant-based expression systems and highlighting cutting-edge technologies that streamline the production of complex protein-based biologics. The versatility of plant-derived biologics across diverse fields, such as human and animal health, industry, and agriculture, is emphasized. This review also meticulously examines regulatory considerations specific to plant-derived biologics, shedding light on the disparities faced compared to biologics produced in other systems.

A Food Matrix Triggers a Similar Allergic Immune Response in BALB/c Mice Sensitized with Native, Denatured, and Digested Ovalbumin

The search for an animal model to evaluate the allergenic potential of processed food products is still ongoing. Both the sensitization to ovalbumin (OVA) in different structural states and the allergic response triggered after intragastric or food challenges were assessed. BALB/c mice were sensitized intraperitoneally to OVA (50 µg) in different structural states (native OVA, N-OVA; denatured OVA, D-OVA; formaldehyde- and lysine-treated OVA, FK-OVA; denatured OVA-FK, OVA-DFK; peptides from pepsin digestion, Pep-OVA). Anti-OVA-specific IgE responses were evaluated using ELISA. Anaphylactic signs and mMCP-1 serum levels were evaluated after intragastric (2.0 mg/OVA) and food (0.41 mg/OVA) challenges. IgE reactivities to N-OVA and D-OVA were similar among groups (p > 0.05). After the challenges, all OVA-sensitized mice developed mild to severe anaphylactic signs (p < 0.05 vs. control). Mice sensitized to N-OVA and D-OVA had the highest mMCP-1 serum levels after challenges (p < 0.05 vs. control). Allergic responses were similar despite the different OVA doses used for the challenges. The N-OVA-sensitized murine model of egg allergy proposed in the present study holds the potential for evaluating the impact of food matrix composition and processing on the threshold of egg-allergic responses.

Food Allergens of Plant Origin

This review presents an update on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of food allergens in plant sources, focusing on the few protein families that contribute to multiple food allergens from different species and protein families recently found to contain food allergens. The structures and structural components of the food allergens in the allergen families may provide further directions for discovering new food allergens. Answers as to what makes some food proteins allergens are still elusive. Factors to be considered in mitigating food allergens include the abundance of the protein in a food, the property of short stretches of the sequence of the protein that may constitute linear IgE binding epitopes, the structural properties of the protein, its stability to heat and digestion, the food matrix the protein is in, and the antimicrobial activity to the microbial flora of the human gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, recent data suggest that widely used techniques for mapping linear IgE binding epitopes need to be improved by incorporating positive controls, and methodologies for mapping conformational IgE binding epitopes need to be developed.

Critical features of an in vitro intestinal absorption model to study the first key aspects underlying food allergen sensitization

New types of protein sources will enter our diet in a near future, reinforcing the need for a straightforward in vitro (cell-based) screening model to test and predict the safety of these novel proteins, in particular their potential risk for de novo allergic sensitization. The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) for allergen sensitization describes the current knowledge of key events underlying the complex cellular interactions that proceed allergic food sensitization. Currently, there is no consensus on the in vitro model to study the intestinal translocation of proteins as well as the epithelial activation, which comprise the first molecular initiation events (ME1-3) and the first key event of the AOP, respectively. As members of INFOGEST, we have highlighted several critical features that should be considered for any proposed in vitro model to study epithelial protein transport in the context of allergic sensitization. In addition, we defined which intestinal cell types are indispensable in a consensus model of the first steps of the AOP, and which cell types are optional or desired when there is the possibility to create a more complex cell model. A model of these first key aspects of the AOP can be used to study the gut epithelial translocation behavior of known hypo- and hyperallergens, juxtaposed to the transport behavior of novel proteins as a first screen for risk management of dietary proteins. Indeed, this disquisition forms a basis for the development of a future consensus model of the allergic sensitization cascade, comprising also the other key events (KE2-5).

Comprehensive COMPARE database reduces allergenic risk of novel food proteins

The comprehensiveness of the allergen database used to bioinformatically compare a novel food protein with known allergens is critical to the ability to assess the allergenic risk of newly expressed proteins in genetically engineered crops. The strength of the relationship between a candidate GE protein's amino acid sequence and that of known allergens is used to predict cross-reactive risk. The number of truly novel allergen sequences added annually to the COMPARE database reflects on the comprehensiveness of our knowledge of allergen amino acid sequence diversity. Here, we investigated the most recent five years of updates to the COMPARE allergen database for truly novel entries. Results indicate that few truly novel sequences are added each year, suggesting that the database and our knowledge of allergen sequence diversity is currently quite comprehensive, and that current in silico prediction of allergenic risk for novel food proteins is robust.

Slow alignment of GMO allergenicity regulations with science on protein digestibility

The current science on food allergy supports the dual allergen exposure hypothesis where sensitization to allergenic proteins is favored by dermal and inhalation exposure, and tolerization against allergy is favored by exposure in the gut. This hypothesis is bolstered by the epidemiological evidence showing that regions where children are exposed early in life to allergenic foods have lower rates of allergy. This led medical experts to replace the previous recommendation to exclude commonly allergenic foods from the diets of young children with the current recommendation that such foods be introduced to children early in life. Past beliefs that lowering gut exposure would reduce the likelihood that a protein would be allergenic led regulators and risk assessors to consider digestively stable proteins to be of greater allergenic risk. This resulted in international guidance and government regulations for newly expressed proteins in genetically engineered crops that aligned with this belief. Despite empirical results showing that allergens are no more digestively stable than non-allergens, and that gut exposure favors tolerization over sensitization, regulations have not come into alignment with the current science prompting developers to continue to engineer proteins for increased digestibility. In some rare cases, this could potentially increase sensitization risk.

Genetically engineered crops for sustainably enhanced food production systems

Genetic modification of crops has substantially focused on improving traits for desirable outcomes. It has resulted in the development of crops with enhanced yields, quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. With the advent of introducing favorable traits into crops, biotechnology has created a path for the involvement of genetically modified (GM) crops into sustainable food production systems. Although these plants heralded a new era of crop production, their widespread adoption faces diverse challenges due to concerns about the environment, human health, and moral issues. Mitigating these concerns with scientific investigations is vital. Hence, the purpose of the present review is to discuss the deployment of GM crops and their effects on sustainable food production systems. It provides a comprehensive overview of the cultivation of GM crops and the issues preventing their widespread adoption, with appropriate strategies to overcome them. This review also presents recent tools for genome editing, with a special focus on the CRISPR/Cas9 platform. An outline of the role of crops developed through CRSIPR/Cas9 in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030 is discussed in detail. Some perspectives on the approval of GM crops are also laid out for the new age of sustainability. The advancement in molecular tools through plant genome editing addresses many of the GM crop issues and facilitates their development without incorporating transgenic modifications. It will allow for a higher acceptance rate of GM crops in sustainable agriculture with rapid approval for commercialization. The current genetic modification of crops forecasts to increase productivity and prosperity in sustainable agricultural practices. The right use of GM crops has the potential to offer more benefit than harm, with its ability to alleviate food crises around the world.

Criteria for risk assessment of plants produced by targeted mutagenesis, cisgenesis and intragenesis

EFSA was asked by the european Commission to develop criteria as advice for consideration for the risk assessment of plants produced by targeted mutagenesis, cisgenesis and intragenesis. EFSA proposes in this statement six main criteria to assist the risk assessment of these plants. The first four criteria are related to the molecular characterisation of the genetic modification introduced in the recipient plant. The four criteria evaluate whether any exogenous DNA sequence(s) is/are present (Criterion 1), whether such sequence derives from the breeders' gene pool (Criterion 2), the type of integration (Criterion 3) and whether any endogenous plant gene is interrupted (Criterion 4). Depending on the evaluation of the above criteria, the product can be a genome edited plant where no exogenous DNA sequence is present, or a cisgenic or intragenic plant where the cisgenic and intragenic sequence are introduced by targeted insertion and no plant endogenous genes are interrupted. In these cases, two more criteria are assessed to evaluate the history of safe use (Criterion 5) and the structure and function of the new allele (Criterion 6). If cisgenic and intragenic sequence are introduced by random integration without interruption of an endogenous gene, or when no risk is identified when an endogenous gene is interrupted, the criteria 5 and 6 will also be assessed. Evaluating the history of safe use is an important part of the proportionate risk assessment of cisgenic, intragenic and genome‐edited plants since the newly introduced allele may already be present in nature. However, when the history of safe use cannot be sufficiently demonstrated, the function and structure of the introduced allele should be carefully assessed. Recommendations are also included on the aspects that need further elaboration for full applicability of the criteria proposed herein are also included.

This publication is linked to the following EFSA Journal article: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7621/full

Simulated gastric fluid assay for estimating the digestibility of newly expressed proteins in GE crops: Missteps in development and interpretation

Digestive stability of a food protein in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) continues to be considered a risk factor for allergy, even though the current science does not support this belief. Methodological shortcomings of the adaption of the SGF assay for use with purified proteins has been cited as a reason to discount results that do not conform to this belief. Missteps in conducting and interpreting the results of SGF assays are reviewed here. However, these methodological shortcomings do not invalidate the conclusion that allergenic proteins are not systematically more stable to digestion than non-allergens. The growing evidence for the dual allergen exposure hypothesis, whereby sensitization to food allergens is primarily caused by dermal and inhalation exposure to food dust, and tolerization against food allergy is primarily induced by gut exposure in food, likely explains why the digestive stability of a protein is not a risk factor for allergenicity.

Evaluation of existing guidelines for their adequacy for the food and feed risk assessment of genetically modified plants obtained through synthetic biology

Synthetic biology (SynBio) is an interdisciplinary field at the interface of molecular engineering and biology aiming to develop new biological systems and impart new functions to living cells, tissues and organisms. EFSA has been asked by the European Commission to evaluate SynBio developments in agri-food with the aim of identifying the adequacy and sufficiency of existing guidelines for risk assessment and determine if updated guidance is needed. In this context, the GMO Panel has previously adopted an Opinion evaluating the SynBio developments in agri-food/feed and the adequacy and sufficiency of existing guidelines for the molecular characterisation and environmental risk assessment of genetically modified plants (GMPs) obtained through SynBio and reaching the market in the next decade. Complementing the above, in this Opinion, the GMO Panel evaluated the adequacy and sufficiency of existing guidelines for the food and feed risk assessment of GMPs obtained through SynBio. Using selected hypothetical case studies, the GMO Panel did not identify novel potential hazards and risks that could be posed by food and feed from GMPs obtained through current and near future SynBio approaches; considers that the existing guidelines are adequate and sufficient in some Synbio applications; in other cases, existing guidelines may be just adequate and hence need updating; areas needing updating include those related to the safety assessment of new proteins and the comparative analysis. The GMO Panel recommends that future guidance documents provide indications on how to integrate the knowledge available from the SynBio design and modelling in the food and feed risk assessment and encourages due consideration to be given to food and feed safety aspects throughout the SynBio design process as a way to facilitate the risk assessment of SynBio GMPs and reduce the amount of data required.