An international study has signalled a sharp rise in the number of officially recognised allergenic proteins - substances that trigger an immune reaction in susceptible people.
James Cook University's Professor Andreas Lopata, a contributor to the study, said the first published official list of allergens in 1986 contained only 56 allergens from 27 species.
"As of June 2025 there were 1127 named allergens from 322 species and the list is still growing," said Professor Lopata.
He said the expansion of known allergens is particularly significant in light of a recent Deloitte report showing that more than 30% of Australians now live with allergies, at a direct financial cost to our health system of almost $19 billion and an even larger indirect cost.
He said three main factors are driving the rise in identified allergens:
"Firstly, the adoption of a Western lifestyle in many parts of the world has changed how people live, eat and interact with their environment. These changes affect the immune system, increasing allergic reactions and prompting further investigations into allergens."
He said globalisation and climate change has seen the movement of plant and animal species across borders, introducing new allergen exposures, sometimes triggering reactions through clinical cross reactivity with local species.
"Lastly, new technologies such as high-throughput omics have resulted in the identification of multiple new allergens in already well-researched sources such as mites and different seafoods," said Professor Lopata.
He said despite major progress, significant knowledge gaps remain. Of specific concern is the emergence of Southeast-Asia as a key region for the identification of newly characterised respiratory and food allergens, highlighting a growing need for regional surveillance and research.
"The allergen profiles of well-studied sources such as dust mites and common pollens are extensive, but far less is known about food allergens affecting populations in tropical and subtropical regions."
He said the rising number of identified allergens highlights the need for a consistent, internationally accepted identification and naming system that can keep pace with scientific discoveries.
