Session 3 : Emerging technologies

The intrinsic properties of antibodies has resulted in them becoming widely exploited as tools in both basic research and the treatment of human disease. This, especially the latter, has been made possible through our increased understanding of antibody structure. The sequences of thousands of antibodies has been determined, and as an early example of the use of bioinformatics, the mechanism by which antibodies are able to recognise antigens was proposed. Elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of antibodies including complexes of the antibody with its antigen, has enabled the structure / function relationship of antibodies to be determined. This presentation will introduce the domain organisation of antibodies and how the understanding of antibody architecture, has been exploited in the design of therapeutic antibodies. The use of naked antibodies and antibody drug conjugates will be discussed. Additionally the use, progress and limitations of antibody fragments in the clinic. Recent data on an alterative technology to the use of hybridoma technology for the selection and cloning of antibodies will also be discussed.