Plant lipid transfer proteins (LTPS): biochemical aspect in panallergen--structural and functional features, and allergenicity.

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are highly conserved and widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom. Several members of LTP family have been identified as relevant allergens in food and pollens. Because of their high resistance to heat treatments and enzymatic digestion, these proteins are allergenic candidates for oral route sensitisation. This review presents biochemical features, allergenicities and cross reactivities of fruit, cereal and pollen LTPs.