Monoclonal antibody (mAb) discovery
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) originate from one unique parent cell, thus binding only to a single epitope. Monoclonal antibody discovery typically refers to the screening and identification of specific antibodies that target a specific epitope for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, like the coronavirus for COVID-19.
There are several approaches to generating therapeutic mAbs. Two of the most common production methods are hybridomas and phage display.
mAb production via hybridomas
In this approach, scientists fuse immortalized myeloma cells with splenocytes obtained from animals previously exposed to the antigen of interest. The resulting fused cell is called a hybridoma. The advantage of a hybridoma is that it now possesses the ability to produce mAbs while dividing indefinitely, whereas splenocytes have a finite lifespan. Researchers then screen thousands of hybridomas to identify the optimal ones based on antigen specificity and immunoglobulin class. These candidates are subsequently analyzed, characterized, and scaled up for downstream processes.
mAb production via phage display
In this method, the variable heavy and light genes of an antibody are introduced into a bacteriophage coat protein gene, resulting in phages that display the antibody on their surface. Using this strategy, scientists can generate an antibody library displaying millions of different antibodies. These displaying phages are then screened against the antigen of interest, and those that are highly specific are identified, isolated, and further characterized for downstream work.
How are monoclonal antibodies produced?
The traditional monoclonal antibody (mAb) production process usually starts with generation of mAb-producing cells (i.e. hybridomas) by fusing myeloma cells with desired antibody-producing splenocytes (e.g. B cells). These B cells are typically sourced from animals, usually mice. After cell fusion, large numbers of clones are screened and selected on the basis of antigen specificity and immunoglobulin class. Once candidate hybridoma cell lines are identified, each "hit" is confirmed, validated, and characterized using a variety of downstream functional assays. Upon completion, the clones are scaled-up where additional downstream bioprocesses occur.
Additional resources for antibody discovery
Accelerate your monoclonal antibody discovery with our product portfolio specifically designed to shorten cell line development time and deliver stable clones with higher affinities and expression levels.
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Cell line Development
Cell line development is a critical step in the process of generating biopharmaceutical molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies. The process often begins with transfecting the host cell type with the DNA encoding the therapeutic protein of interest allowing for random or directed integration of target DNA into the host cell genome. Thousands of clones are screened to isolate the rare high producing cells, a manual and time-consuming process.
Cell line Development
Cell line development is a critical step in the process of generating biopharmaceutical molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies. The process often begins with transfecting the host cell type with the DNA encoding the therapeutic protein of interest allowing for random or directed integration of target DNA into the host cell genome. Thousands of clones are screened to isolate the rare high producing cells, a manual and time-consuming process.
Comparison of traditional cloning methods vs. f.sight
In this study, we conducted six sets of experiments, cloning two CHO cell lines with animal-component-free (ACF) cell culture media and supplements, and compared the performance a CloneSelect™ f.sight single cell printer versus two other accepted cloning methods (FC and LD).
View our introductory video and download application note.
Comparison of traditional cloning methods vs. f.sight
In this study, we conducted six sets of experiments, cloning two CHO cell lines with animal-component-free (ACF) cell culture media and supplements, and compared the performance a CloneSelect™ f.sight single cell printer versus two other accepted cloning methods (FC and LD).
View our introductory video and download application note.
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Confident identification of monoclonal CHO-S cells
Growing CHO cells in CloneMedia CHO Growth A is a more efficient way to clone CHO cells than performing limiting dilution in liquid media. Semi-solid media immobilizes the cells which prevents the cells from moving during routine handling. This enables researchers to confidently track the growth of a single cell into a colony.
Confident identification of monoclonal CHO-S cells
Growing CHO cells in CloneMedia CHO Growth A is a more efficient way to clone CHO cells than performing limiting dilution in liquid media. Semi-solid media immobilizes the cells which prevents the cells from moving during routine handling. This enables researchers to confidently track the growth of a single cell into a colony.
eBook: Optimize your high value cell lines
In this eBook, we present an overview of the cell line development workflow as well as high throughput solutions for accelerating the process, and enabling easier and faster selection of high-producing mammalian cell lines.
eBook: Optimize your high value cell lines
In this eBook, we present an overview of the cell line development workflow as well as high throughput solutions for accelerating the process, and enabling easier and faster selection of high-producing mammalian cell lines.
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Enhanced development of virus-specific hybridomas
Double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) viruses cause a variety of disease in humans. Species within the order of Herpesvirus and the families Adenovirus and Papillomavirus can cause symptoms in humans with similar presentations. Furthermore, serological and protein-based diagnostic confirmation for a particular virus may be complicated due to antigen conservation within viral genomes. A high degree of proteomic homology and serum cross reactivities lead to poor differentiation between individual species of ds-DNA viruses. The purpose of the research was to identify an optimal producer cell line that secrets a highly specific, non-cross-reactive monoclonal antibody to be used in biotherapeutics development.
Enhanced development of virus-specific hybridomas
Double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) viruses cause a variety of disease in humans. Species within the order of Herpesvirus and the families Adenovirus and Papillomavirus can cause symptoms in humans with similar presentations. Furthermore, serological and protein-based diagnostic confirmation for a particular virus may be complicated due to antigen conservation within viral genomes. A high degree of proteomic homology and serum cross reactivities lead to poor differentiation between individual species of ds-DNA viruses. The purpose of the research was to identify an optimal producer cell line that secrets a highly specific, non-cross-reactive monoclonal antibody to be used in biotherapeutics development.
Hybridoma selection using HAT medium
Hybridoma selection after fusion of myelomas and spleen cells is a critical step in monoclonal antibody production. Often scientists use the HAT (hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine) method to accomplish this task.
Hybridoma selection using HAT medium
Hybridoma selection after fusion of myelomas and spleen cells is a critical step in monoclonal antibody production. Often scientists use the HAT (hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine) method to accomplish this task.
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Hybridoma technology
Hybridoma technology is a method for mass-producing antibodies in a hybrid cell line generated from the fusion of antibody-producing B-cells with an immortalized myeloma cell line, now called a hybridoma cell. Because every B-cell produces a unique antibody, single-cell cloning of hybridomas can be used to generate a diverse library of unique monoclonal antibodies at a large scale, which are very frequently used in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
Hybridoma technology
Hybridoma technology is a method for mass-producing antibodies in a hybrid cell line generated from the fusion of antibody-producing B-cells with an immortalized myeloma cell line, now called a hybridoma cell. Because every B-cell produces a unique antibody, single-cell cloning of hybridomas can be used to generate a diverse library of unique monoclonal antibodies at a large scale, which are very frequently used in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.
IgG Quantification
In therapeutic protein engineering and cell line development, IgG quantification is the process of measuring the amount of immunoglobulin G (IgG), a common class of therapeutic proteins, produced by a genetically modified cell line. This is important for evaluating and monitoring the productivity of the cell line and selecting the best candidate for further development of therapeutic antibodies.
IgG Quantification
In therapeutic protein engineering and cell line development, IgG quantification is the process of measuring the amount of immunoglobulin G (IgG), a common class of therapeutic proteins, produced by a genetically modified cell line. This is important for evaluating and monitoring the productivity of the cell line and selecting the best candidate for further development of therapeutic antibodies.
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Monoclonality
Cell line development and assurance of monoclonality are critical steps in the process of generating biopharmaceutical molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies. A cell line can be established following the isolation of a single viable cell robustly expressing the protein of interest. A key milestone in this process is documenting evidence of clonality. Documentation of clonality is typically image-based, whereby an image of a single cell is produced and included in regulatory filings.
Monoclonality
Cell line development and assurance of monoclonality are critical steps in the process of generating biopharmaceutical molecules, such as monoclonal antibodies. A cell line can be established following the isolation of a single viable cell robustly expressing the protein of interest. A key milestone in this process is documenting evidence of clonality. Documentation of clonality is typically image-based, whereby an image of a single cell is produced and included in regulatory filings.
Phage display
Phage display is a technique used to study the interaction of proteins displayed on the surface of a bacteriophage with other molecules such as peptides, DNA, and other proteins. Phage display is commonly used to find high-affinity interactions between antibodies and antigens, which play a critical role in viral pathogenesis, vaccines, and other treatments.
Phage display
Phage display is a technique used to study the interaction of proteins displayed on the surface of a bacteriophage with other molecules such as peptides, DNA, and other proteins. Phage display is commonly used to find high-affinity interactions between antibodies and antigens, which play a critical role in viral pathogenesis, vaccines, and other treatments.
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Preparing and plating cells in semi-solid medium
Plating cells in the viscous semi-solid medium may be challenging to first-time users. Watch our 4-minute tutorial to learn some tips and tricks on how to plate cells in this medium more efficiently.
Preparing and plating cells in semi-solid medium
Plating cells in the viscous semi-solid medium may be challenging to first-time users. Watch our 4-minute tutorial to learn some tips and tricks on how to plate cells in this medium more efficiently.
Latest Resources
Resources of Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)
Application Note
Automation of the CRISPR-based cell line development workflow
Automation of the CRISPR-based cell line development workflow
An increase in demands for faster high-throughput cell-line development and better screening in the pharmaceutical space is driving research facilities and companies to automate existing…
eBook
How to Implement Colony Picking Workflows with Automation
How to Implement Colony Picking Workflows with Automation
Colony picking represents a powerful tool within the workflow of mammalian cell line development and the study of microbiology.
Blog
The role of Monoclonal Antibodies against COVID-19
The role of Monoclonal Antibodies against COVID-19
Discover why mAbs are key in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 and how the pandemic has shaped their discovery and development pipeline. Over the past three years, the development of…
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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…
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Blog
How to Develop Monoclonal Cell Lines for Stem Cell Engineering
How to Develop Monoclonal Cell Lines for Stem Cell Engineering
Monoclonal assurance is undeniably critical in cell line development for generating therapeutics, such as monoclonal antibodies or cell-based therapies. To utilize a cell line for…
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Blog
Accelerated Production of Monoclonal Antibodies for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2
Accelerated Production of Monoclonal Antibodies for the Treatment of SARS-CoV-2
With solutions from Molecular Devices, scientists can fast-track the FDA approval process and accelerate monoclonal antibody discovery The timeline to identify and develop…
Brochure
Clone screening solutions
Clone screening solutions
Advance your microbial and mammalian clone screening with proven, automated technologies
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Blog
The evolution of CHO cells’ role in cell line development
The evolution of CHO cells’ role in cell line development
Since the first approval of recombinant insulin and human growth hormone in the early 1980s, a multitude of recombinant protein therapeutics have been approved by regulatory…
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Brochure
ClonePix 2 Mammalian Colony Picker
ClonePix 2 Mammalian Colony Picker
Redefine clone screening and selection with transformative cell line development workflows.
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Blog
Get to know our Field Applications Scientist: Dwayne Carter
Get to know our Field Applications Scientist: Dwayne Carter
Dwayne Carter gives us a taste of 3D bioprinting, clone screening, and Caribbean cuisine Dwayne Carter is a cell biologist and educator who joined Molecular Devices in November 2020…
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eBook
Optimize your high-value cell lines
Optimize your high-value cell lines
During the last decade, production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and recombinant proteins using mammalian cells has led to a boom in the introduction of biotherapeutic proteins to the mark…
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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…
Publications
QPix™ Chroma Filter Thin Film Optical Filter for Blue/White Colony Selection
QPix™ Chroma Filter Thin Film Optical Filter for Blue/White Colony Selection
The QPix™ Chroma Filter is a thin film translucent optical filter that provides a robust method to confidently select and pick rare expressing bacterial colonies based on color intensity in…
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Application Note
Confident Identification of Monoclonal CHO-S Cells Grown in Semi-Solid Media using the CloneSelect Imager
Confident Identification of Monoclonal CHO-S Cells Grown in Semi-Solid Media using the CloneSelect Imager
Regulatory criteria to obtain approval of biological drugs are constantly evolving. One of the regulatory metrics for biological cell lines, the digital documentation of monoclonality, has…
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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/…
Videos & Webinars
Tips to automating molecular cloning and strain engineering applications
Monoclonality Workflow
Immunology and Vaccine Development Workflow
Hybridoma Workflow
Phage Display Workflow Overview
Hybridoma selection using HAT medium
Preparing and Plating Cells in Semi-Solid Medium
