Cloning of antibodies Fab fragments in mmammalian cells

• Grant number: 23/08450-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Maria Moro
• Grantee: Renan Sampaio Palhares
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/07040-1 - Center of Research and Development in Immunobiologicals, AP.NPOP

Abstract

The Biopharmaceuticals Laboratory has a tradition in the discovery, development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies with therapeutic potential for infectious diseases. Recently, the laboratory produced and characterized a variety of human anti-tetanus and anti-Sars-Cov-2 antibodies in their integral format, that is, complete IgG. However, there was a need to produce and study antibody fragments, such as the antigen-binding fragment (Fab), since these molecules retain the ability to recognize the antigen without activating the fragment-dependent effector mechanisms, Fc. The production of Fab fragments is also interesting for further studies on the structure of the antigen-antibody complex, such as crystallography and cryogenic electron microscopy. This project aims at cloning genes coding for variable domains of antibodies that have already been produced in their entirety and their subsequent expression in mammalian cells, such as lineages derived from HEK293 or CHO.