Assessing allergenicity of different tomato ecotypes by using pooled sera of allergic subjects: identification of the main allergens.

An evaluation of the potential allergenicity of different tomato ecotypes is reported. Twelve tomato ecotypes were assessed through a proteomic approach, using pools of sera of allergicpatients from two different regions (Emilia Romagna in Nothern Italy and Campania in Southern Italy) , in order to identify the major allergens and evaluate differences in IgE binding properties of the tomato cultivars. Different reactive proteins were identified, which were already known as tomato allergens. Moreover, our findings showed that allergenic patterns were serum-specific, indicating that the allergenic properties of different tomato ecotypes are defined by the specific proteins to which the patient is sensitized.