We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Novel In Vitro Method May Revolutionize Antibody Production

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 10 Aug 2017
Print article
Image: An electron microscopy image showing an antibody-secreting plasma cell generated using antigen- and CpG-coated nanoparticles (Photo courtesy of Sanjuan Nandin et al., 2017).
Image: An electron microscopy image showing an antibody-secreting plasma cell generated using antigen- and CpG-coated nanoparticles (Photo courtesy of Sanjuan Nandin et al., 2017).
A novel method for boosting the ability of a vaccine to stimulate production of antibodies is based on the in vitro stimulation of B-cells with nanoparticles conjugated to both GpG and antigen.

Antigen-specific B-cell activation is a key step in the initiation of immune responses. The in vitro activation of B-cells in an antigen-dependent manner is difficult to achieve, because wide haplotype variations necessitates the use of unique T-cells specific to a particular antigen to activate the B-cells. To overcome this limitation, investigators at the Francis Crick Institute (London, United Kingdom) and colleagues in the United States developed a novel, in vitro strategy to stimulate human B-cells with streptavidin nanoparticles conjugated to both GpG and antigen.

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (or CpG ODN) are short single-stranded synthetic DNA molecules that contain a cytosine triphosphate deoxynucleotide (C) followed by a guanine triphosphate deoxynucleotide (G). The (p) refers to the phosphodiester link between consecutive nucleotides. When these CpG motifs are unmethylated, they act as immunostimulants. The CpG signature is recognized by the pattern recognition receptor (PRR) Toll-Like Receptor 9 (TLR9), which is constitutively expressed only in B-cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in humans and other higher primates.

The investigators reported in the July 24, 2017, online edition of The Journal of Experimental Medicine that the stimulatory effect achieved by this technique induced antigen-specific B-cell proliferation, differentiation of B-cells into plasma cells, and robust antibody secretion after a few days of culture. The investigators validated this strategy using cells from healthy donors to retrieve human antibodies against tetanus toxoid and influenza hemagglutinin (HA) from H1N1 and newly emergent subtypes such as H5N1 and H7N9.

Anti-HA antibodies were cross-reactive against multiple subtypes, and some showed neutralizing activity. Although these antibodies may have arisen as a result of previous influenza infection, the investigators also obtained gp120-reactive antibodies from non–HIV-infected donors, indicating that they could generate antibodies without prior antigenic exposure.

"Specifically, it should allow the production of these antibodies within a shorter time frame in vitro and without the need for vaccination or blood/serum donation from recently infected or vaccinated individuals," said senior author Dr. Facundo Batista, formerly at the Francis Crick Institute and now at the Ragon Institute (Boston, MA, USA). "In addition, our method offers the potential to accelerate the development of new vaccines by allowing the efficient evaluation of candidate target antigens."

Related Links:
Francis Crick Institute
Ragon Institute
Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
Gold Member
Xylazine Immunoassay Test
Xylazine ELISA

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: MOF materials efficiently enrich cfDNA and cfRNA in blood through simple operational process (Photo courtesy of Science China Press)

Blood Circulating Nucleic Acid Enrichment Technique Enables Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Diagnosis

The ability to diagnose diseases early can significantly enhance the effectiveness of clinical treatments and improve survival rates. One promising approach for non-invasive early diagnosis is the use... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The OvaCis Rapid Test discriminates benign from malignant epithelial ovarian cysts (Photo courtesy of INEX)

Intra-Operative POC Device Distinguishes Between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Cysts within 15 Minutes

Ovarian cysts represent a significant health issue for women globally, with up to 10% experiencing this condition at some point in their lives. These cysts form when fluid collects within a thin membrane... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.