A Novel Application of Phage Display Technology for Antibody Selection, Using Alternating Rounds of Positive and Negative Selection

Abstract

Antibodies are a powerful tool in various studies concerning the expression and localization of proteins in response to various factors of the environment. Phage display technology offers a useful alternative to classical immunization approaches, as it does not require immunogenicity of the antigen, as well as the handling of live animals. However, the requirement for the antigen to be presented and isolated in a relatively pure form, and large quantity remains a major obstacle. In the present study, we offered a novel approach toward exploiting phage display antibody libraries for the fast selection of specific antibodies by alternating rounds of positive and negative selection. The overall aim was to select antibodies against antigens, presented in the treatment sample, while not presented in the control. Although the acquired results did not conclusively show a successful selection of antibodies against a great variety of antigens, they proved the potential of this novel approach.