Development and Testing of Enhanced Affinity Reagents for Use in Environmental Detection Assays
Abstract
Current affinity reagent development methodologies generally rely on costly and slow antibody production that is based on animal inoculations with attenuated, inactivated, or surrogate biothreat agents. Recent literature has demonstrated that the de novo computer design of recombinant affinity candidates, followed by affinity maturation, can bind to viral targets. In this study, analogous methods were used to generate recombinant binders to a surface antigen of the Vaccinia virus. Several lead candidates were identified using two different approaches; however, these were later abandoned due to either off-target affinity or their absence in affinity maturation selection pools. In addition, in collaboration with AxioMx, Inc. (Branford, CT), a phage-based library and the methods needed for isolation and production of thermostable antibodies were developed. These techniques leveraged the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Arlington, VA)-initiated Antibody Thermos ability Program Immunoglobulin G (IgG) framework to be a scaffold of the antibody production pipeline. The library was then transferred to the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD) to enable in-house production of thermostable antibodies against targets of interest.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1054245
Entities
People
- Jeff D. Ballin
- Stacey Broomall
Organizations
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center