Polyclonal Antibody Production Services
There are times when off-the-shelf antibodies don’t meet your needs or you need to investigate an uncharacterized protein. When this happens, custom polyclonal antibody (pAb) production is a solution. Polyclonal antibodies are a mix of B lymphocytes that recognize different epitopes on the same antigen, providing broader specificity than monoclonal antibodies. But they also require more complex production, which can extend project timelines and result in higher batch-to-batch variability.
The first step in pAb production is the selection of an immunizing antigen. Polyclonal Antibody Production Services antigen can be a purified endogenous protein, recombinant protein or peptide, often coupled to a carrier protein such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) or bovine serum albumin (BSA). The antigen is typically mixed with an adjuvant, which enhances the immune response, to increase antibody titers. Booster immunizations are then administered at 2- to 3-week intervals until the desired titers are achieved. The resulting polyclonal immunoglobulins are then isolated and purified for use in your assays.
Custom Monoclonal Antibodies: Precision and Consistency
During the process of pAb production, careful consideration should be given to host species choice. Rabbits are the most commonly used host for pAb production, due to their ability to produce high volumes of antiserum. Other hosts such as sheep, goat, camelids and chickens may be suitable in certain cases, especially when targeting conserved mammalian proteins or if your application requires a lower steric hindrance that can allow access to buried antigens.
Choosing the best partner for antibody production services can have an impact on your overall cost. It is important to consider your desired delivery time, project scope, characterization, additional services such as labeling and modification and the level of automation that will be required for your assays. When you have a clear understanding of your project requirements, it is easier to compare quotes and choose the right partner for your next custom antibody project.