Crayfish allergies are increasingly common, and a key culprit is Pro c 2 (arginine kinase)—a major allergenic protein found in Procambarus clarkii. In an exciting new development, researchers have demonstrated the potential of shark-derived nanobodies (VNARs) for detecting and neutralizing this allergen, paving the way for advanced diagnostics and immunotherapies in the field of food allergies.

VNARs: A Novel Tool in Allergen Targeting

In this study, scientists immunized Chiloscyllium plagiosum (a species of bamboo shark) with the Pro c 2 allergen and successfully constructed a VNAR domain library. Through screening, they identified three promising nanobodies: VNAR-11, VNAR-20, and VNAR-29.

These VNARs were engineered into Fc-fusion proteins (VNAR-Fc) by attaching an IgG1 Fc fragment and were expressed in HEK293F cells for functional analysis. Binding assays revealed a broad affinity range (KD: 0.2131 – 465.3 μM) toward Pro c 2, with the VNAR-Fc constructs demonstrating inhibition of patient IgE binding—a key marker in allergic response.

Molecular Dynamics and Epitope Targeting

Further analysis through molecular dynamics simulation revealed that VNAR-20 and VNAR-29 exhibited more stable interactions with Pro c 2. Notably, the binding sites overlapped with conserved IgE epitopes, suggesting that these VNARs not only detect allergens effectively but could also disrupt allergenic responses at a molecular level.

Toward Allergy Therapeutics and Diagnostics

The findings support the therapeutic and diagnostic value of shark-derived VNARs in seafood allergy management. Their small size, stability, and ability to bind conserved epitopes make them highly attractive for the development of next-generation allergen-specific tools, especially for hard-to-treat food allergies.

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Reference: ACS Publications