Aptamer Innovation – Peanut Allergy Mitigation

A New Era in Peanut Allergy Mitigation
Our Study introduces an innovative and safe approach to creating allergy-friendly peanut products and reducing peanut contamination in various settings.
Health Challenges
The Problem
Peanut allergies are a serious concern, and accidental exposure can be life-threatening for some people.
CHILDREN WITH PEANUT ALLERGY
Up to 3% of children (over 1.6 million) in the US have peanut allergies.
40% of children with a peanut allergy have experienced at least one anaphylactic event.
50-100 children in the United States die each year from peanut allergies.
ADULTS WITH PEANUT ALLERGY
Over 4.6 million US adults have a peanut allergy.
150-200 adults in the United States die each year from peanut allergies.
The Innovation
We developed special molecules (aptamers) that can bind to the proteins in peanuts that cause allergic reactions.
These aptamers attach to peanut proteins that are known to cause allergies and conceal them, making them less likely to trigger allergic responses.
Binding
Aptamers attach to specific peanut proteins knows to cause allergies. Neutralizing degranulation process that causes allergic reaction.
Key Findings Applications
Farming
- Watering: Peanut plants are watered with aptamer solution.
- Absorption: Plants take up aptamers through their roots.
- Integration: Aptamers bind to allergens as peanuts grow.
- Harvest: Result: peanuts with reduced allergenicity.
The aptamers can be taken up by peanut plants when watered with them, producing peanuts with reduced allergenicity. This method allows for the production of allergy-friendly peanuts without genetic modification.
Key Findings Applications
Food Industry
ROASTED PEANUT: The aptamers remain effective even after roasting, making them useful in the production of roasted peanuts with reduced allergenicity.
Aptamers remain effective even after roasting process.
Peanuts maintain their allergen-concealing properties.
PEANUT BUTTER: Aptamers work in peanut butter, indicating potential use in processed peanut products to make them more allergy-friendly.
Raw Peanuts. Aptamer-treated peanuts are used as a base ingredient.
Processing. Peanuts are ground into butter, maintaining aptamer effectiveness.
Packaging. Resulting peanut butter has reduced allerrgenicity.
Key Findings Applications
Decontamination
Surface: These molecules could be used to treat surfaces, concealing peanut allergen residues and reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
Kitchenware: The aptamers could be applied on kitchenware or dishes to neutralize any peanut allergens present.
Machine Decontamination: Food processing equipment could be treated with these aptamers to reduce the risk of peanut contamination between production runs.