Drs. Ira Pastan and Mitchell Ho of the National Cancer Institute have developed a new method of cell surface display of single-chain antibodies for affinity maturation in a mammalian system.
Cells expressing a rare mutant antibody with higher affinity were enriched about 240-fold by a single-pass cell sorting from a large excess of cells expressing wildtype antibodies with slightly lower affinity. Additionally, a highly enriched mutant with increased binding affinity for CD22 after a single selection of a combinatory library randomizing an intrinsic antibody hotspot was successfully obtained.
The system is compatible with other mammalian expression systems, and it is a rapid, simple and robust procedure.
Applications include a new method of displaying Fvs on human cells and a new method useful for isolating new high affinity antibodies for cancer, AIDS and other diseases.
The technology is currently in the preclinical stage of development.
The National Cancer Institute Laboratory of Molecular Biology is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize mammalian cell surface display of Fvs for rapid antibody maturation.
More info: Betty Tong, Ph.D., 301-496-0477, tongb@mail.nih.gov
