Optimizing Functional and Safety Properties of a Marine Allergen: Maillard-Induced Conjugation of Chitosan and Saccharides Attenuates the Allergenicity of Turbot (<em>Scophthalmus maximus</em>) Parvalbumin
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Fish allergy, primarily driven by Parvalbumin (PV), is a global health concern with limited effective mitigation strategies. This study explored Maillard conjugation using chitosan (CS) and various saccharides to modify the structural, functional, and allergenic properties of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) PV. Structural analyses: Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Western blotting (WB), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Circular dichroism (CD) confirmed the successful conjugation and significant alterations in secondary structure, including a loss of α-helical content and an increase in β-sheet/random coil fractions. Glycation markedly enhanced antioxidant activity, with total phenolic content (TPC) increasing up to 10.3-fold and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging reaching 74.5% in the CS-xylose-PV conjugate (CXTPV). Indirect Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed significant (p < 0.05), sugar-dependent reductions in IgE-binding capacity (up to ~72% for CXTPV). Rat basophilic Leukemia-2H3 (RBL-2H3) cell line assays demonstrated suppressed β-hexosaminidase release (~75% reduction), decreased Interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion, and potent inhibition of Interleukin-4 (IL-4) production, indicating attenuated allergenic potential and immunomodulatory effects. CXTPV exhibited the strongest overall performance. These results highlight CS-saccharide Maillard conjugation as an effective strategy developed for hypoallergenic marine-derived ingredients with enhanced bioactive properties.