Exhibited at Expo2025 Osaka, Kansai,Japan! :2025-08-29

The Center of Innovation for Bio-DX participated in the “Science: Connecting You to the Future” at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, held over six days from August 14 to 19, 2025.

During the six-day exhibition, more than 70,000 visitors attended the event, many of whom expressed words of encouragement and expectations for our initiatives on Allergy-free Egg Products.

At our booth, under the theme “Eating Together with Joy: How Science Makes Eggs Safe for Everyone,” we showcased the research of Hiroshima University. Through videos, posters, and explanations provided by our staff, numerous visitors deepened their understanding and interest in Allergy-free Egg Products.

Children who participated in the “Does it contain eggs? Food Quiz” were surprised to learn that certain unexpected foods contain eggs, enjoying the experience while being intrigued by their discoveries.

Furthermore, our “FutureEgg” initiative—where visitors enclosed their wishes for the commercialization of allergy-reduced eggs into egg-shaped capsules—received more than 1,000 messages. Among them were heartfelt notes of encouragement addressed to researchers and developers, which we carefully reviewed and deeply appreciated.

We are sincerely grateful for the number of visitors, which far exceeded our expectations.

At Hiroshima University, we continue to pursue the removal of allergenic substances using genome-editing technology, with the aim of realizing a future where, for example, even those with egg allergies can enjoy eating eggs with peace of mind.

■Q&A

Below are some of the questions we received from visitors during the exhibition.

Q．Apart from not containing ovomucoid, how does Allergy-free Egg Products differ from a regular egg?

A．Allergy-free Egg Products tend to become slightly firmer when heated. However, the difference is so small that only very sensitive individuals may notice it, and it can be managed through processing techniques (e.g., when making pudding or cookies). Other basic nutrients remain largely unchanged. While ovomucoid normally accounts for about 11% of egg white proteins, the total protein content of the egg white remains nearly the same. The slight reduction in ovomucoid is compensated by a minor increase in other major egg white proteins.

Q．Why do you only remove ovomucoid instead of all allergy-related genes?

A．Eggs contain six major allergens (four in the egg white, including ovomucoid, and two in the yolk), along with several minor allergens. Among them, allergens other than ovomucoid lose their allergenicity when heated or processed. Therefore, by removing ovomucoid, it becomes possible to create processed egg-based foods that can be consumed safely by individuals with egg allergies.

Q．Are you using CRISPR/Cas9 for genome editing?

A．No, we are not using CRISPR/Cas. Instead, we use Platinum TALEN, a proprietary technology developed by Hiroshima University.

Q．When do you expect Allergy-free Egg Products to become available in practice?

A．The specific timeline has not yet been determined. However, we are currently conducting clinical research with the cooperation of Sagamihara Hospital, a leading medical institution specializing in food allergies. Additionally, in collaboration with Kewpie Corporation, we are developing prototypes of processed egg-based foods (such as cookies and puddings) using Allergy-free Egg Products.

Q．What challenges must be overcome before these eggs can be commercialized?

A．There are several challenges. First, large-scale production is required, involving at least tens of thousands of chickens per poultry house. Second, it is essential to establish clear and transparent communication with consumers to gain understanding and trust regarding genome-edited foods.

Q．I would like to purchase them as raw eggs. Is that possible?

A．Although ovomucoid is not present in Allergy-free Egg Products, other allergenic proteins remain. Therefore, they are not completely allergy-free. It is known that these other allergens are significantly reduced by heating, which is why products will need to be offered in processed, heated form. For this reason, selling allergy-reduced eggs as raw eggs is considered difficult. We expect their social implementation to take the form of products that have been heat-treated to confirm reduced allergenicity.

Q．Will the products be labeled as genome-edited foods?

A．Yes. In addition to labeling them as genome-edited foods, we are also considering appropriate allergen-related labeling. We believe consultation with regulatory authorities is necessary to determine whether existing guidelines are sufficient.

Q．How do you confirm that no unintended byproducts are generated by genome editing?

A．Potential byproducts resulting from genome editing at the ovomucoid gene locus are predictable. We have developed antibodies against these predicted products, and testing has confirmed that no such byproducts are detected in allergy-reduced eggs. In addition, whole-genome sequencing has verified that no changes occurred in protein-coding regions outside the targeted ovomucoid gene, and proteomic analysis of egg white proteins confirmed that Allergy-free Egg Products show no significant differences compared with conventional eggs.

Q．Is it ethically acceptable to perform genome editing on chickens?

A．Most vegetables, fruits, and livestock products available today have been modified through selective breeding over long periods of history. For example, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kale all originated from the same wild ancestor and were produced through selective breeding. Chickens were first domesticated about 4,000 years ago from the red junglefowl of Asia. Ancient Egyptian records from around 1500 BC already describe chickens laying eggs daily, even though wild junglefowl typically produce only around 10 eggs per breeding season—indicating that selective breeding for egg production had already begun.

In this sense, modern chickens and livestock such as cows and pigs are species that have already been shaped by human needs. While it is unacceptable to recklessly alter organisms with genome editing or genetic engineering in ways that harm ecosystems, developing organisms with new, useful traits under proper management is a continuation of practices long carried out by humans.

We also place great importance on monitoring the health of genome-edited chickens. Their well-being will be assessed over several years, equivalent to the standard lifespan of laying hens. In our research, chickens are raised under established management guidelines, with careful attention to the health of each bird. To date, no adverse health effects have been observed.

Q．Could genome editing in humans be used to completely cure allergies?

A．Technically, genome editing in human cells is possible. However, editing germ cells or embryos is not ethically permitted. Somatic cell genome editing for therapeutic purposes, however, is ethically acceptable, and some treatments have already been approved in the United States.

Since allergic predisposition is strongly influenced by genetic factors, it may be possible to improve such conditions with genome editing. If genome editing of somatic cells can be used to address allergies, it could become a highly valuable therapeutic approach. 

Q．Do you plan to work on other allergies, such as nuts, milk, or wheat?

A．At present, we do not. Tackling other allergies would require different organisms, specialized expertise, and new technologies. Therefore, our current focus remains exclusively on egg allergies.

■About "Science: Connecting You to the Future"

This event, hosted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), taked place at the venue of Expo2025 Osaka,Kansai,Japan. It is designed to showcase the outcomes of collaborative research projects by universities, companies, and local governments. By experiencing how science connects to the future of society, the event aims to inspire the next generation to view social challenges as personal issues and to consider the kind of future society they would like to help build.

Dates: August 14 (Thu) – 19 (Tue), 2025

Venue: Osaka-Kansai Expo Site (Yumeshima) EXPO Exhibition Centre “WASSE” North

Official Website: https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/expo_watashitomirai/index.html