Allergen Quantification via Mass Spectrometry Peptide Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for standardizing allergen vaccines are hindered by the variability of natural allergen sources, making absolute quantification of specific vaccine components in complex mixtures challenging, and there is a need for sensitive detection and quantification of food allergens to ensure safety and compliance.
Innovation Solution
A method using mass spectrometry with allergen calibration standard peptides, where known peptides with identical or unique sequences are degraded and labelled, allowing for absolute quantification by correlating their amounts with corresponding peptides in the sample through mass analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional immunoelectrophoretic and ELISA techniques are used for allergen quantification, then the method is well-established and relatively simple, but the measurement precision and reliability are insufficient due to antibody variability and inability to achieve absolute quantification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces antibody-based immunological detection (ELISA, immunoelectrophoresis) with mass spectrometry-based detection. This substitution eliminates the variability inherent in antibody reagents and enables absolute quantification by directly measuring the mass and abundance of allergen peptides, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring complex antibody standardization procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from immunological binding (antibody-antigen interaction) to physical mass measurement (mass spectrometry). By measuring the mass-to-charge ratio and signal intensity of peptide ions, the method achieves absolute quantification based on physical constants rather than biological variability, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity
2Stability of the object's composition
If natural allergen extracts are used for vaccine standardization, then the composition reflects the natural source material, but the batch-to-batch consistency is poor due to considerable variation in raw material composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification and quantification of individual allergen components in the natural extract using mass spectrometry before final vaccine formulation. By characterizing the composition upfront with high precision, manufacturers can make informed decisions about standardization, blending, or adjustment to achieve consistent batch-to-batch quality while maintaining the natural composition benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where mass spectrometry quantification results are used to monitor and control allergen content across production batches. The precise measurement data provides feedback for adjusting formulation processes, ensuring that batch-to-batch variation is minimized while maintaining the characteristic composition of natural allergen sources
3Object-affected harmful factors
If sensitive detection methods are used to detect trace allergens in food, then the safety and compliance are improved, but the measurement precision requirements increase the complexity of the detection system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex immunological detection systems requiring high precision antibody reagents and extensive standardization with mass spectrometry. This substitution achieves sensitive trace allergen detection through direct mass measurement, improving food safety capabilities while actually reducing the operational complexity compared to high-precision immunological methods
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to method for quantification of the absolute amount of allergen in an allergen sample comprising:a) providing a known amount of one or more allergen calibration standard peptide(s) having a sequence of amino acids which is identical with, and optionally unique for, a sequence to be found in the allergen to be quantified and optionally labelling said allergen calibration standard peptide(s),b) degrading the allergen sample to obtain a mixture of peptides, and optionally labelling said peptides with one or more labelling agent(s),wherein at least the peptides in the degraded allergen sample or the calibration standard peptides are labelled, and if both the peptides in the degraded allergen sample and the allergen calibration standard peptide(s) are labelled, the labelling agent(s) used for labelling the allergen calibration standard peptide(s) are different from the labelling agent(s) used for labelling the peptides of the degraded allergen sample,c) quantifying the absolute amount of allergen by correlating the amount of the allergen calibration standard peptide(s) with the amount of the corresponding peptide(s) of the degraded allergen sample by mass analysis.