IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROTEIN PROFILE AND POTENTIAL ALLERGENS IN DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF BEANS CONSUMED IN BRAZIL.

• Grant number: 24/22635-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Keity Souza Santos
• Grantee: Letícia Haidar Samaritano Pereira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Food allergies are exacerbated immune responses of the hypersensitivity type, triggered by exposure to specific allergens present in food. IgE-dependent food hypersensitivity, one of the most common forms, occurs in two phases: initial sensitization and re-exposure to the allergen, leading to reactions that can range from mild symptoms to severe ones, such as anaphylactic shock. Various foods are associated with allergies, and legumes, including beans, may play a significant role in increasing global allergic reactions, particularly due to their high protein content. In Brazil, beans are a staple food, widely consumed in varieties such as Phaseolus vulgaris and Vigna unguiculata, which account for 80% and 20% of national consumption, respectively. However, studies characterizing the allergenic profile of beans at the local level are scarce, despite the relevance of this legume in the Brazilian diet. This study aims to investigate the protein profile of these bean varieties consumed in Brazil, seeking to identify allergenic proteins and characterize the allergenic potential of each variety, with the objective of contributing to strategies for the prevention and management of food allergies.