Current Perspectives of Proteomics for the Identification and Characterisation of Insect-Derived Proteins With Allergenic Potential

Currently, pet owners can easily access a broad array of commercial pet products specifically formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of their cats and dogs. The trend towards organic pet foods, prioritizing whole ingredients over processed ones, is gaining more and more attention, emphasizing sustainability in sourcing dietary proteins. Insects, rich in essential amino acids, emerge as promising protein substitutes, though they do carry potential risks of triggering adverse food reactions, such as allergies in pets. This, in turn, provides a fertile ground for advanced proteomic analysis, facilitating comprehensive identification and quantification of allergens from edible insects. This includes defining immune epitopes originating from these allergens, thus fostering the discovery of potentially new proteins with allergenic potential and aiding in the in vitro diagnosis of allergen sensitization. This review presents the latest advancements in edible insect-derived allergens and the proteomic investigations conducted to analyse them. We offer insights into classical and advanced proteomic approaches designed for identifying and quantifying these allergens in various food matrices. Additionally, we focus on recent studies concerning the characterization of novel insect allergens, exploring sensitization and cross-reactivity mechanisms, with a specific emphasis on pets.