Man-made antibodies

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies can now be genetically engineered and endowed with new properties. In the future, gene technology could enable antigen-binding fragments to be made by exploiting repertoires of variable domain genes derived from immunized animals and expressed in bacteria. How readily can this approach be extended to production of 'in vitro' repertoires of variable domain genes, and obviate the immunization of animals? © 1991 Nature Publishing Group.