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Epitope mapping of proteins is used for development of new vaccines. Also, epitope mapping is an essential aspect of the discovery and development of diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies. Intellectual property considerations of patentability are another important issue for epitope mapping of a therapeutic antibody. Furthermore, regulatory agencies recommend that for any antibodies to be used in humans, the antigenic epitopes should be biochemically determined.
Epitope mapping is the process of identification and characterization of the minimum molecular structures that are recognized by the Immune System, mainly T and B cells. Most epitopes recognized by antibodies or B cells are three-dimensional surface features of a protein antigen; these features fit precisely and thus bind to antibodies. In contrast, some epitopes are linear, which are determined by the amino acid sequence (the primary structure) rather than by the 3D shape (tertiary structure) of a protein.
Staffed by dedicated scientists with combined expertise in antibody engineering and protein
X-ray Crystallography, Creative BioStructure has established an antibody epitope mapping platform this is based on protein crystallography. We have extensive experience in crystallizing antibody/antigen complexes and resolving their 3D structures. In particular, we are able to map the epitopes of a large variety of antibody forms, including intact IgG, Fab, scFv, F(ab')2, diabody, minibody, minoantibody, tandem scFv and nanobody as well as affibody.
X-ray Crystallography of antigen/antibody complexes allows mapping both conformational and linear epitopes.
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