Edible Insects and Allergenic Potential: An Observational Study About In Vitro IgE-Reactivity to Recombinant Pan-Allergens of the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) in Patients Sensitized to Crustaceans and Mites

Given their nutritional features and environmental sustainability, black soldier fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i>) larvae are currently being considered in Europe for commercialization as human food. The primary goal of this study is the determination of in vitro IgE-cross-reactivity to recombinant tropomyosin (_HITPM) and arginine kinase (_HIAK) of <i>H. illucens</i> in subjects sensitized to crustaceans and/or mites. Dot blot assays for recombinant _HITPM were carried out with the sera of 48 subjects, 30 sensitized to crustaceans (Cr+) and/or house dust mites (HDM+) (STUDY group) and 18 non-sensitized (CTRL group). A higher rate of IgE-reactivity to recombinant _HITPM was found in the STUDY group compared to non-sensitized controls (73% vs. 44%; <i>p</i> 0.066). No significant relationship was achieved upon dot blot assays for _HIAK. No relevant association between a positive history of food reactions and immunoreactivity to _HITPM and to _HIAK was reported (15% in _HITPM+ vs. 6% in _HITPM-, <i>p</i> NS; 28% in _HIAK+ vs. 50% in _HIAK-, <i>p</i> NS), contrary to the _HITPM+Cr+HDM+ subset (50% vs. 0%, <i>p</i> 0.022). Considering the wide overlap of pan-allergens within the <i>Arthropoda</i> phylum, concerns about allergenic potential due to the eventual consumption of <i>H. illucens</i>-enriched foods might be valid. Therefore, targeted studies involving basophil activation tests, skin prick tests, and a double-blind placebo-controlled oral food challenge using <i>H. illucens</i> are needed.