Process Steps:

1. Separate master cDNA libraries containing diverse Ig heavy and light chain genes are constructed in a vaccinia-based vector. Arrays of mini libraries of up to 100 V genes per library are assembled and amplified from the master libraries.

2. These mini libraries are introduced into human cells which secrete fully assembled antibodies into the culture medium.

3. Specific antibodies are detected by ELISA or other functional assays.

4. Virus encoding the specific heavy and light chain genes are recovered from the corresponding mini library by limited dilution cloning.

5. V-genes encoding the specific antibody of interest are isolated and characterized.

Process Benefits: Vaccinex's secreted antibody discovery process is one of the most promising technologies to select antibodies against membrane-associated receptors such as GPCR's and ion channels. Since the secreted antibody libraries of the Vaccinex technology can be directly screened against whole cells, there is no need for antigen purification.