Charlotte Hands - Objective markers of IgE- mediated adverse reactions to food - a proteomics approach

Project Details

Description

IgE-mediated food allergy has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients as at present we lack an effective, accepted therapy. As a consequence, after receiving a diagnosis, patients are advised to avoid their problem food and those at risk of a severe reaction are provided with rescue medication for use should they accidentally consume their problem food. Fear of experiencing a severe, or even fatal, reaction is a major driver of impaired quality of life. A test able to provide an objective measure of an allergic reaction during food challenges with potential to identify those at greatest risk would address a significant unmet clinical need.

This PhD project integrates multidisciplinary research with the translation of new technology, based on protein analysis by mass spectrometry (MS), into clinically useful tools. It will be undertaken in collaboration with Waters, a world-leading manufacturer of chromatography and mass spectrometry equipment.

MS methods will be applied to characterising the release of pre-formed protein and peptide mediators originating from effector cells (such as mast cells or basophils) which will be complimented by application to biobanked serum samples from allergic individuals undergoing diagnostic food challenges. As well as confirming the presence of proteins and peptides originating from the effector cells these samples will allow cardiovascular markers and any changes to be identified that may be associated with the development of an allergic reaction. They will also provide the opportunity to determine whether absorption of peanut allergens into the circulation may also play a role in determining IgE-mediated reactions. Candidate markers of a reaction will be analysed in the context of symptoms experienced by patients during a food challenge.
Short titleP:KAZ Charlotte Hands - Object
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/10/1530/09/19

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Biotechnology

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