The effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on shrimp Penaeus vannamei allergenicity

Pen a 1 is a major shrimp allergen that induces an allergy. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of simulated gastrointestinal fluids on the allergenicity of Pen a 1. Purified Pen a 1 from shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) was subjected to digestion in SGF (simulated gastric fluid) and SIF (simulated intestinal fluid) for a set time. The allergenicity of digestive Pen a 1 was analyzed by immunoblotting and Ci-ELISA, using pool sera from patients with shrimp specific IgE. The results showed that Pen a 1 exhibited a decrease in allergenicity with increasing digestion time in the SGF and SIF. However, Pen a l exhibited strong resistance to digestive fluids, and all yielded fragments (33 kD, 23 kD, and 14 kD) showed allergic activity. Therefore, anti-digestion may be an important factor for Pen a 1 to induce an allergy.