Allergenic assessment of three edible insect proteins: Notable allergic properties of black soldier fly proteins

• Silkworm pupa proteins have a certain antidigestive properties. • Edible insects trigger Th2-type allergic reactions. • Black soldier fly protein triggered the strongest allergic reactions in mice. • Disruption of intestinal homeostasis is associated with allergic reactions. Insect proteins can be a new source of protein, but their allergenicity cannot be ignored. In this study, the sensitization of black solid fly (Hermetia illucens L.) (BSF), Tenebrio molitor (TM) and silkworm pupa (Si) was evaluated on the basis of animal experiments, and potential allergens were identified using LC-MS/MS. The BALB/c mice experiments showed that the mice in the BSF and Si groups showed Th2-type immune responses. However, the allergic symptoms and related indexes were not obvious in the mice of TM group. Immunoblotting and LC-MS/MS analyses indicated that tropomyosin could be a potential allergen for the BSF protein, and lipoprotein 3, arylphorin and methionine-rich storage protein were potential allergens for the Si protein. These results suggest that as insect proteins enter the dietary system, there is a need to guard against their allergenicity and to be alert to the strength of allergenicity of different insect proteins.