New Allergens Approved by the WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee in 2021-2024 and Their Significance for Future Diagnostics, Regulation, and Research. An EAACI Task Force Report.

The WHO/IUIS Allergen Nomenclature Sub-Committee is an international body of experts that maintains the systematic nomenclature of allergenic proteins by assigning official names to newly identified allergens submitted by researchers. Here, we summarize the data on new allergens approved between 2021 and 2024. The sub-committee assigned names to 112 new allergens with 124 isoallergens/variants as well as 26 new isoallergens/variants of previously named allergens. Most new allergens were respiratory allergens from animals (35 allergens) and plants (25) as well as food allergens from animals (22) and plants (17). Many newly identified allergens reflect globalized allergen exposure and growing research activities outside of Western countries. This is illustrated by allergens from the tropical mite Blomia tropicalis, pollen allergens from tree and weed species native to Asia, and food allergens from regionally important foods such as mango, seafood, silkworm pupae, and natto. The allergen profiles of most relevant sources are well established, but gaps in our knowledge remain, particularly regarding allergens important for populations outside of Europe and North America. The still growing number of known allergens highlights the importance of a consistent, unambiguous allergen nomenclature that evolves with clinical demands and scientific discovery and supports efforts to close existing knowledge gaps.