SEMI-SYNTHETIC ANTIBODY FRAGMENT COMBINATORIAL LIBRARY

摘要

According to the invention there is provided a semi-synthetic antibody fragment combinatorial library based on avian immunoglobulin genes. The avian immunoglobulin genes are poultry or chicken immunoglobulin genes. The antibodies are single chain antibody fragments and the library is displayed on large phages. At least some of the third complementarity determining region (CDR 3) of the variable (V) domain of the heavy (H) chains of the antibody fragments are replaced by synthetically randomised peptides. Synthetically randomised variable heavy (VH) regions are paired with the natural repertoire of avian VH regions and not with defined light chains, the arrangement being such that combinatorial diversity is contributed by both the variable light (VL) and VH regions and further such that the natural VH repertoire of the avian VH regions adds further diversity.