We established a core technological platform based on phage-displayed synthetic antibody libraries designed with protein interaction and folding principles encoded in machine learning algorithms. Antibodies attained from this antibody technological platform bind to target antigens with affinity and specificity comparable to affinity-matured antibodies against the antigens in nature, bypassing the in vivo affinity maturation processes involving somatic hyper mutations and clonal selections. In addition to generating data facilitating the understanding of the molecular origin of the specificity and affinity underlying the interactions between affinity-matured antibodies and cognate antigens, the technological platform provides solutions for low cost and high-volume discoveries of novel antibodies that cannot be easily attained from conventional animal-based monoclonal antibody technologies. We have demonstrated the applicability of these antibodies from the synthetic antibody libraries in rapidly developing antibodies in managing human diseases: antibody-drug conjugates targeting tumor-associated antigens have been developed as successful treatments in eradicating tumors in experimental animals, and antibodies against target antigens of infectious diseases have been developed so as to establish sandwich immunoassays as the basis of rapid antigen tests. We anticipate a shift of the antibody development approaches from the usage of animal immune systems as black-boxes to rational antibody developments that could change how we perceive, develop and use antibodies as therapeutics and diagnostics for treating and preventing human diseases.

Antibody therapeutics and diagnostics from synthetic antibody libraries designed with computational methods

ACS Spring 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.