Nature Biotechnology21, 1088 - 1092 (2003)
Published online: 10 August 2003; | doi:10.1038/nbt858
High-level generation of polyclonal antibodies by genetic
immunization
Ross S Chambers
& Stephen Albert Johnston
Center for Biomedical Inventions, Department of
Internal Medicine, University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center,
5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas
75390-9185, USA.
Antibodies are important tools for investigating the proteome, but
current methods for producing them have become a rate-limiting step1. A primary obstacle in most methods for generating antibodies or
antibody-like molecules is the requirement for at least microgram quantities of
purified protein. We have developed a technology for producing antibodies using
genetic immunization2. Genetic immunization−based antibody
production offers several advantages, including high throughput3
and high specificity. Moreover, antibodies produced from genetically immunized
animals are more likely to recognize the native protein2. Here we
show that a genetic immunization−based system can be used to efficiently
raise useful antibodies to a wide range of antigens. We accomplished this by
linking the antigen gene to various elements that enhance antigenicity and by
codelivering plasmids encoding genetic adjuvants. Our system, which was tested
by immunizing mice with >130 antigens, has shown a final success rate of
84%.
