Screening of specific binding peptide for β-lactoglobulin using phage display technology

beta-lactoglobulin (beta-Lg) is a major food allergen, there is an urgent need to develop a rapid method for detecting beta-Lg in order to avoid contact or ingestion by allergic patients. Peptide aptamers have high affinity, specificity, and stability, and have broad prospects in the field of rapid detection. Using beta-Lg as the target, this study screened 11 peptides (P1-11) from a phage display library. Using molecular docking technology to predict binding energy and binding mode of proteins and peptides. Select the peptides with the best binding ability to beta-Lg (P5, P7, P8) through ELISA. Combining them with whey protein, casein, and bovine serum protein, it was found that P7 has the best specificity for beta-Lg, with an inhibition rate of 87.99%. Verified by molecular dynamics that P7 binds well with beta-Lg. Therefore, this peptide can be used for the recognition of beta-Lg, becoming a new recognition element for detecting beta-Lg.