Isolation of a human-like antibody fragment (scFv) that neutralizes ricin biological activity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ricin is a lethal toxin that inhibits protein synthesis. It is easily extracted from a ubiquitously grown plant, Ricinus communis, and thus readily available for use as a bioweapon (BW). Anti-ricin antibodies provide the only known therapeutic against ricin intoxication.

Results

In this study, after immunizing a non-human primate (Macaca fascicularis) with the ricin chain A (RTA), a phage-displayed immune library was built (2 x 108 clones), that included the lambda light chain fragment. The library was screened against ricin, and specific binders were sequenced and further analyzed. The best clone, 43RCA, was isolated using a new, stringent neutralization test. 43RCA had a high, picomolar affinity (41 pM) and neutralized ricin efficiently (IC50 = 23 +/- 3 ng/ml, c

SUBMITTER: Pelat T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2716335 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature