A food allergy to a protein in papaya that gives rise to a strawberry food allergy due to the same fruit protein is referred to as:
options: a) proteinaceous immunosuppression. b) cross reactivity. c) novel allergenicity. d) hygiene interruption.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: b) cross reactivity.
Explanation:
Cross reactivity occurs when the immune system recognizes and reacts to similar proteins found in different substances, such as different foods. In the case of a food allergy, the immune system produces antibodies against a specific protein (allergen) in one food. If a similar protein is present in another food, the immune system may mistakenly identify this second protein as the original allergen and trigger an allergic reaction. This phenomenon is called cross reactivity.
For example, someone allergic to a protein in papaya may develop a reaction to a similar protein found in strawberries because their immune system cannot distinguish between the two similar proteins. The immune system treats the strawberry protein as if it were the papaya protein, leading to symptoms of an allergic reaction.
Cross reactivity is common in food allergies involving fruits, vegetables, and pollen. The proteins responsible are often structurally related, such as profilins or lipid transfer proteins, which are present in various plant foods. This similarity in protein structure causes the immune system to react to more than one food.
The other options are incorrect in this context:
- Proteinaceous immunosuppression refers to proteins that suppress immune responses, which is unrelated to allergic cross reactions.
- Novel allergenicity would mean a new, previously unrecognized allergen causing a reaction, but the question describes an existing known protein causing cross reactivity.
- Hygiene interruption refers to the hygiene hypothesis, which relates to immune system development and allergies but does not describe cross reactivity between proteins.
In summary, cross reactivity explains why an allergy to a protein in one fruit, such as papaya, can cause an allergic response to a similar protein in another fruit like strawberry due to immune system recognition of similar protein structures.