New Opportunities Projects
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New Technologies for Creating Affinity Reagents
Collaborating Institution: Arizona State University (ASU), Tempe, AZ
Principal Investigator: Stephen Johnston, PhD
Expected Product: Development of synthetic antibodies for a number of biodefense agents.
Description: This project was originally funded as the Pathogenesis Expression Core, whose purpose was to provide: (1) microarrays for select agents expression analysis and technical support, (2) antibodies for select agent proteins, and (3) technology development for expression analysis. These technologies were to aid researchers developing vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics for select agents. In accordance with these aims we have developed and validated microarrays for Yersinia pestis, Brucella, Bacillus anthracis, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All four classes of arrays have been used. We have made available and refined programs to aid in performing and analyzing microarray experiments. Most notably we have improved the Genome Directed Primers program and assisted researchers in using it. We have produced antibodies to approximately 50 select agent proteins.
In addition, we have used some of the Core support to develop a new approach to making synthetic antibodies. The technique involves screening for combinations of peptides that bind the target protein. This system looks promising for development of synthetic antibodies that could be used in an array format, and would be faster to produce and much less expensive. These peptides can also be used to “signature” the serum in response to vaccination or infection.
Based on the progress with this technology, we propose to transition the Core to a research effort. We will still provide the microarray service to the WRCE research community on a per-cost basis. The major effort will be towards exploiting the new technologies for diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine production. Specifically, we will: 1) improve the ability to make synthetic binding agents to host factors on an array format, 2) implement the technology as a high throughput system demonstrating the ability to make affinity agents to 100 proteins, and 3) apply this system to make affinity therapeutics to viruses. |
