Carica papaya is a plant from the order Brassicales which produces fruit called papaya.
Only 1 allergen has been identified in papaya fruit and that is Cari p 1.
Cari p 1 is a polygalacturonase (PG) and is responsible in part for ripening of fruit. In food allergy PGs are responsible for oral allergy type symptoms as the patient first becomes sensitised to the pollen of this plant and then to the fruit.
It has been recorded that patients have suffered allergic reactions from both the fruit of the plant and from the pollen.
In early 2020 a chymopapain was identified, this is the most likely cause of the link to latex allergies.
Papaya has been loosely linked to Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome and Latex Food Syndrome.
You may have Pollen-Food Allergy Syndrome if you suffer from allergic reactions to both the pollen and fruit of the papaya plant.
Latex Food Syndrome is caused by the body confusing the proteins it encounters in food to that of latex proteins to which it is already sensitised.
Those with a sensitivity to chitinase may have linked allergies to foods which contain high levels of chitinase, like avocado, banana, chestnuts, corn (maize), kiwi, papaya, pomegranate and tomatoes.
Molecular Characterization of Chymopapain: A Major Allergen Associated with Papaya Allergy, 2020
Class I chitinases as potential panallergens involved in the latex-fruit syndrome, 1999
Carica papaya pollen allergy, 1998
Latex allergy: clinical features and cross-reactivity with fruits, 1994
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