Solutions for immunogen discovery and vaccine development
Vaccine development workflows vary widely depending upon the platform (e.g. inactivated virus vs. DNA vaccine) chosen, each having its own advantages. CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and many other organizations promote such diverse approaches during a pandemic in order to increase the likelihood of success against the infectious agent.
In this video, Justin Dranschack, manager, BioPharma platform, reviews our workflow solution for vaccine development using recombinant proteins as the immunogen, and references the systems to aid in your research.

Antigen / immunogen discovery workflow
Step 1: Screen for binding to virus-specific antibody
Phage display is a powerful in vitro method that can be used to screen millions of antibodies against viral antigens, which are then considered as potential vaccine candidates.
Step 2: Immunogen characterization
Immunogenicity studies are conducted to determine whether the antigens identified in the previous step will initiate an immune response, since phage display only screens for antigen-antibody binding. If the antigen evokes an immune response (often measured by an ELISA), the antigen, now considered an immunogen, will move forward. Additional immunogen characterization is used to engineer desirable properties into the immunogen in the next stage.
Step 3: Protein (immunogen) engineering
Some properties of immunogens are known to cause undesirable effects when injected into animals or humans. Therefore, genetic engineering tools like CRISPR/Cas9 are used to manipulate the DNA encoding the immunogen so that they no longer possess those properties.
Step 4: Cell transfection and cloning
Once the DNA has been optimized, it is necessary to scale up the production of the immunogen for further testing. At this stage, it is critical to generate a high expressing, clonally derived cell line. This process often involves genetic engineering techniques described above along with single cell cloning into microwell plates, particularly if using mammalian cell lines.
Step 5: Screen for quality attributes including titer
Following single cell cloning, cell lines are monitored for growth and assessed for protein expression. The immunogen is then purified and prepared for injection into an animal in order to induce an immune response. Antibodies generated from the animal are then screened in a virus neutralization assay to determine vaccine efficacy.
Systems to accelerate your COVID-19 research
Get up and running rapidly with proven technologies
Molecular Devices is able to support your research needs by offering technology and solutions rapidly with express processing, shipping and customized finance solutions if needed on microplate readers, biopharma and cellular imaging systems.

Our ImageXpress systems offer an end-to-end solution for high-content screening and analysis. All our systems support a wide range of applications, increased throughput, and streamlined workflows.

Our SpectraMax® series of microplate readers measure absorbance, fluorescence, and luminescence plus additional detection modes with available upgrades for western blot, cell imaging, and fast kinetics with injectors. GMP/GLP labs can meet FDA guidelines with our SoftMax Pro GxP compliance and validation solution.

SoftMax® Pro 7.1.1 GxP Software is the latest, most secure software to achieve full FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance with streamlined workflows to ensure data integrity. Every step is optimized to simplify analysis and reporting to support our microplate readers.

The QPix™ 400 Series Microbial Colony Pickers combine intelligent image analysis with precise automation for fast and efficient screening of large libraries. Capable of picking up to 3000 colonies per hour, it will streamline your workflow.

The ClonePix™ 2 Mammalian Colony Picker is a fully automated system for the selection of high-value clones used in antibody discovery and cell line development.

The CloneSelect™ Single-Cell Printer™ Series deposits single cells gently and with high efficiency using a patented, inkjet-like disposable, one-way dispensing cartridge.

The CloneSelect™ Imager is a high-throughput automated solution for imaging and analyzing mammalian cells.

Our washers provide speed and configurability options—from single-tube dispensing to washing full 96- and 384-well plates.
Resources related to COVID-19 cellular responses and vaccine development
Blog
COVID-19 Timeline: Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Therapeutic Antibody Development
COVID-19 Timeline: Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Therapeutic Antibody Development
Global research efforts are focused on understanding the SARS-CoV-2 virus in order to develop potential therapies for COVID-19. Join us as we explore a scientific timeline of key…
Application Note
Qualitative measurement of SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid IgG antibodies in serum samples
Qualitative measurement of SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid IgG antibodies in serum samples
Rapid, accurate, and frequent molecular testing is of critical importance in navigating the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Citations
Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody by wild-type plaque reduction neutralization, microneutralization and pseudotyped virus neutralization assays
Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody by wild-type plaque reduction neutralization, microneutralization and pseudotyped virus neutralization assays
Virus neutralization assays measure neutralizing antibodies in serum and plasma, and the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) is considered the gold standard for measuring levels of t…
Application Note
Comparison of traditional cloning methods vs. CloneSelect Single-Cell Printer f.sight using CHO cell lines commonly used for monoclonal antibody production
Comparison of traditional cloning methods vs. CloneSelect Single-Cell Printer f.sight using CHO cell lines commonly used for monoclonal antibody production
As regulations for cell line development become increasingly more stringent, researchers will be required to perform single-cell cloning and provide evidence that a cell line is derived…
Application Note
A microfluidics-based, single cell printing and microplate imaging workflow optimized for efficiency, viability and monoclonality report generation
A microfluidics-based, single cell printing and microplate imaging workflow optimized for efficiency, viability and monoclonality report generation
In this app note, we demonstrate a unified workflow that combines single cell deposition and clonality verification. We couple the use of the SCP and CSI to deposit single cells into a…
Application Note
A workflow combining single-cell isolation and microplate imaging improves cloning efficiency with higher assurance of clonality
A workflow combining single-cell isolation and microplate imaging improves cloning efficiency with higher assurance of clonality
The isolation of single cells has a broad spectrum of applications, from single-cell genomics to antibody discovery and cell line development.
Application Note
HTRF profiling services on SpectraMax iD5 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader
HTRF profiling services on SpectraMax iD5 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader
Cisbio’s Custom Solutions Laboratory team has worked in collaboration with Molecular Devices to generate relevant data promoting the expert profiling service activity completed by Cisbio US…
Application Note
Assess cell viability and proliferation with colorimetric readouts
Assess cell viability and proliferation with colorimetric readouts
Learn how absorbance microplate reader provides a colorimetric readouts for cell viability or proliferation.
Application Note
Measure total protein in cell lysates with SpectraMax ABS Plus Microplate Reader
Measure total protein in cell lysates with SpectraMax ABS Plus Microplate Reader
Quantification of protein concentrations from cell lysates is a key step for many downstream applications, such as western blots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).
Application Note
Streamline BCA-based protein quantitation on the SpectraMax iD5 reader
Streamline BCA-based protein quantitation on the SpectraMax iD5 reader
Learn how to quantitate a cellular protein sample with BCA protein assay kits on the SpectraMax® iD5 Multi-Mode Microplate Reader.
Application Note
Normalize HTRF cytokine assays to cell viability
Normalize HTRF cytokine assays to cell viability
Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines play a central role in autoimmunity and inflammatory and infectious diseases. They are also key players in metabolic disorders and oncology,…
Application Note
Counting cells with the Transmitted Light Analysis Module in MetaXpress
Counting cells with the Transmitted Light Analysis Module in MetaXpress
Label-free cellular assays are required for a multitude of biological applications that monitor the cell number, proliferation, health, confluency, and cytotoxicity. In this application…
Application Note
Measuring cell health on the SpectraMax iD3 reader with cell viability assays
Measuring cell health on the SpectraMax iD3 reader with cell viability assays
Measuring cell health from the multiple vantage points of viability and apoptotic pathways can provide insight into the impacts of a variety of experimental treatments including drug…
Application Note
Validate CRISPR-Edited Cells using Imaging and Western Blot Detection on a Microplate Reader
Validate CRISPR-Edited Cells using Imaging and Western Blot Detection on a Microplate Reader
Genome editing has been widely used to study gene expression and protein function, but many of these methods are labor intensive and inaccurate. The CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced…
Application Note
Complete cAMP workflow solution using the CatchPoint cAMP Fluorescent Assay Kit
Complete cAMP workflow solution using the CatchPoint cAMP Fluorescent Assay Kit
G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are important transmembrane proteins that translate extracellular signals into intracellular responses. These intracellular responses are comprised of…
Application Note
DNA and RNA absorbance measurements using SpectraMax Microplate Readers
DNA and RNA absorbance measurements using SpectraMax Microplate Readers
Ultraviolet (UV) measurements in microplates became possible when Molecular Devices introduced the first UV-capable microplate reader. Since then, microplate measurements of DNA, RNA, and…
Application Note
Confident assurance of clonality using calcein AM with minimal effect on viability
Confident assurance of clonality using calcein AM with minimal effect on viability
The development of cell lines that express a specified protein of interest is critical to the generation of biopharmaceutical molecules such as monoclonal antibodies. To establish a cell…
Application Note
Using the NanoOrange Protein Kit with SpectraMax Microplate Readers
Using the NanoOrange Protein Kit with SpectraMax Microplate Readers
This application note describes how to use the NanoOrange® Protein Quantitation Kit from Life Technologies in SpectraMax® microplate readers with the fluorescence detection mode and SoftMax…
Application Note
AlphaLISA Screen on the SpectraMax Paradigm Multi-Mode Microplate Detection Platform
AlphaLISA Screen on the SpectraMax Paradigm Multi-Mode Microplate Detection Platform
Inflammation, the body’s reaction to infection, irritation, or other injury, is accompanied by increased endothelial chemokine production and adhesion molecule expression, which may result…
Application Note
EarlyTox Live/Dead Assay Kit on SpectraMax Fluorescence Microplate Readers
EarlyTox Live/Dead Assay Kit on SpectraMax Fluorescence Microplate Readers
Cell viability assays are often performed to assess the effects of a variety of treatments, including drug candidates, pathway activators and inhibitors, and reporter genes. One of the most…
Application Note
Quantitation of dsDNA samples using the SpectraMax Quant dsDNA Assay Kits
Quantitation of dsDNA samples using the SpectraMax Quant dsDNA Assay Kits
As different types of test samples may contain different concentrations of DNA, selection of an appropriate fluorescent reagent with the required sensitivity and detection range is…
Application Note
Confluence and growth curve generation on the CloneSelect Imager
Confluence and growth curve generation on the CloneSelect Imager
The ability to monitor cell proliferation has become increasingly important, particularly with the widespread use of in vitro cell lines as model systems. Proliferation rates can be used to…
Application Note
Enhanced development of virus-specific hybridomas using ClonePix and CloneSelect Imager Technologies
Enhanced development of virus-specific hybridomas using ClonePix and CloneSelect Imager Technologies
The ClonePix System was employed in the high-throughput screening of hundreds of sub-cloned colonies from parental hybridoma material (historically parental line yields were less than 1 mg/…
Application Note
Optimizing GFP transfection with the SpectraMax i3 Multi-Mode Detection Platform
Optimizing GFP transfection with the SpectraMax i3 Multi-Mode Detection Platform
Expression of fluorescent proteins, for example, green fluorescent proteins (GFP), is often used as a read-out for reporter gene assays. In a typical reporter assay, the regulatory sequence…
Application Note
Direct protein quantitation using the SpectraDrop Micro-Volume Microplate
Direct protein quantitation using the SpectraDrop Micro-Volume Microplate
Quantitation of protein using UV absorbance is a rapid, nondestructive method that relies on the absorbance of near-UV wavelengths of light by the tryptophan and tyrosine residues in a…
Application Note
Luminescent cell viability and cytotoxicity assays on the SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Microplate Reader
Luminescent cell viability and cytotoxicity assays on the SpectraMax i3x Multi-Mode Microplate Reader
The CellTiter-Glo assay from Promega uses luciferase enzyme, which requires ATP in order to generate light. The luminescent signal produced in the assay depends on the amount of ATP in the…
Application Note
Visualize subcellular vesicles to quantitate autophagy in neuronal cells
Visualize subcellular vesicles to quantitate autophagy in neuronal cells
Autophagy is an intracellular catabolic process that sequesters and degrades proteins and organelles that have either been recognized as faulty or are simply no longer needed by the cell.…
Application Note
Increase sensitivity in no-wash assays using confocal imaging
Increase sensitivity in no-wash assays using confocal imaging
Screening of hybridoma supernatants for antibodies directed against cell-surface antigens is an important step in the discovery and development of antibodies for vaccines or therapeutic use…
Application Note
Detection and quantitation of protein with ScanLater Western Blot Detection System
Detection and quantitation of protein with ScanLater Western Blot Detection System
Protein detection is important for pharmaceutical and clinical research today, and western blots are among the most common methods employed for this purpose. Various techniques are used to…
Application Note
Measuring luciferase expression using the SpectraMax Glo Steady-Luc Reporter Assay Kit
Measuring luciferase expression using the SpectraMax Glo Steady-Luc Reporter Assay Kit
The use of gene reporters such as luciferase permits highly sensitive and nondestructive monitoring of gene expression. Firefly luciferase, a 61 kD monomeric protein, is especially…
Application Note
Nucleic acid quantitation and analysis using the QuickDrop Spectrophotometer
Nucleic acid quantitation and analysis using the QuickDrop Spectrophotometer
Spectrophotometry is a well-established technique used to quantitate and analyze biological substances. Of these substances, nucleic acids are one of the most routinely measured in life…
Videos & Webinars

Immunology and Vaccine Development Workflow