Preliminary identification of allergens in Pectobacterium phage lyases for soft rot Pectobacteriaciae biocontrol: in silico approach

The persistence of bacterial soft rot disease extensively affected local farming communities and demanded more potent mitigation that is both economical and efficient. Bacteriophages were deemed to suit these requirements as biocontrol agents, however, their allergenicity for human consumption had not been substantiated. This study analyzed the allergen potential of six lyases from Pectobacterium phage Arno160, vB_PatP_CB4, PP101, and vB_PcaM_CBB through a four-point strategy using five web-based in silico programs to provide baseline data and satisfy the recommendations of WHO-IUIS. It was determined that an aa fragment from vB_PcaM_CBB (1) lyase is a Class 1 allergen with 48% identity and 78% similarity to Avenin-F and may illicit oral allergy syndrome in patients with coeliac disease. The lyases from Arno160, as well as the vB_PcaM_CBB (2,3), were also found to be probable allergen, which requires in sera examination for confirmatory validation. The lyases from PP101 and vB_PatP_CB4 rendered no positive hits from the programs and were ruled out as probable non-allergen, thereby suggesting their potential use as biocontrol candidates in future Next Generation Risk Assessment studies.