ENGINEERED ANTIBODY FRAGMENT THAT IRREVERSIBLY BINDS AN ANTIGEN

摘要

The present invention provides mutant antibodies with infinite affinity for a target antigen. The antibodies comprise a mutant amino acid at a position within or proximate to a complimentarity determining region of the antibody and a linker covalently bound to the mutant amino acid, the linker comprising a reactive functional group. Subsequent to binding an antigen, the reactive functional group is converted to a covalent bond by reaction with a group of complementary reactivity on the bound antigen. The invention also provides bispecific antibodies with infinite binding affinity that comprise a second domain that specifically binds a metal chelate. The invention further provides methods of using such antibodies to diagnose and treat diseases and conditions.