Pre-DQ tool (Source codes) ad-hoc meeting with GMO industry representatives
An ad hoc meeting with GMO industry representatives (GMO applicants) was organised by EFSA on 27th of May 2026 (14:30-17:00 CEST). The meeting was held remotely.
The following topics were discussed:
1. Celiac Disease.
An overview of EFSA’s framework for the assessment of the potential of newly expressed proteins in genetically modified (GM) plants to trigger celiac disease was presented. The presentation highlighted the role of the preDQ tool within EFSA’s stepwise assessment framework and identified areas for further consideration and improvement, including lessons learned from its use, possible exclusion criteria, and recommendations for future risk assessments.
2. Update and maintenance of the preDQ.
The updated preDQ v2 tool was presented, including technical improvements, enhanced usability and the integration of the Food Nonamers Database. It was emphasised that preDQ predicts peptide binding to HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 and that its results should be considered within the broader celiac disease risk assessment rather than as a standalone prediction of celiac disease risk.
3. preDQ v2 Questions & Answers.
A Q&A session provided practical clarification on the interpretation and use of preDQ v2 results. Questions addressed the interpretation of positive and negative outputs, the limitations of the tool, and how preDQ results should be considered in the overall assessment of the potential of a protein to trigger celiac disease.
4. Proposal for the Improvement of the preDQ tool.
CropLife Europe presented proposals for further improvement of the preDQ tool. These included refining motif searches, introducing exclusion criteria intended to reduce the number of potential false-positive predictions, giving greater consideration to docking-based predictions, and further expanding the Food Nonamers Database, including consideration of deamidated peptides.
5. Recommendations on celiac disease assessment framework of newly expressed proteins in GMO for EU applications.
CropLife Europe presented a proposal for a revised celiac disease assessment framework for newly expressed proteins in GMOs. The proposed framework follows a risk-based, stepwise approach centred on protein knowledge and history of safe use, with preDQ modelling considered only for proteins that remain of concern after initial screening.
It is noted that EFSA recently published a report with the updates and upgrades of the preDQ for peptide binding prediction here. EFSA will release a new version of the preDQ software tool in the coming months.