Our Science

Creating antibodies is the foundation of our business, and we are always seeking ways to improve the processes we use.

Genetic Immunization

We were the first US company to produce monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies using the method of genetic immunization. Genetic immunization is now a key element in our repertoire of custom antibody services. This method is ideally suited to generating antibodies when a protein is difficult or expensive to express or purify. Genetic Immunization will:

• Save you time. No large scale synthesis and purification of proteins is required for immunization. The immunized animal makes the protein for you.
• Control your target. Antibodies are developed only against the expressed protein. Unwanted antibodies to contaminants in the protein purification are eliminated.
• Produce High Affinity Antibodies. The lower amounts of protein generated by genetic immunization favor the production of high affinity antibodies.

We have successfully used this method to develop antibodies in mice, rats, and rabbits.

Anti-idiotypic Antibodies

Anti-idiotypic antibodies are antibodies whose combining sites mimic the structure of an antigen of interest. Typically, an antibody that recognizes Protein X will be immunized into the host animal. This antibody is the idiotype. The host will respond by generating antibodies that recognize the idiotype. Certain of those antibodies will recognize the combining site on the idiotype, mimicking the structure of Protein X, and thus are anti-idiotypic antibodies. These anti-idiotypic antibodies can be used as a surrogate in a variety of applications, such as competitive immunoassays, direct serologic assays for specific antibody, or other applications where Protein X is not appropriate for large-scale production and/or purification.

Pharmacologic Activity Antibodies

Antibodies with pharmacologic activity do more than bind to a target; the action of binding to the target can either stimulate or inhibit the activity of the target. Antibodies with pharmacologic activity may block receptor-ligand interactions, neutralize viruses, inhibit enzymes or other bioactive molecules, etc. Such antibodies can be extremely useful in determining, for example, not only the location within the cell of a protein of unknown function, but also the function of that protein. This type of information is potentially very useful in the identification of potential drug targets for cancer and other diseases.

Bifunctional Antibody Development

Bifunctional antibodies are antibodies that are designed to bind different immunogens on each of their two binding arms. Such antibodies can be used to bind two separate immunogens simultaneously, bind to one immunogen while “carrying” another immunogen along, etc. QED develops bifunctional monoclonal antibodies using our own proven patented technique. Different groups of mice are each immunized with different antigens. Sera from immunized mice are monitored for desired antibody responses. When appropriate antibody responses are attained, spleen cells from selected mice are combined and fused to myeloma cell lines, and resulting hybridomas are subjected to dual analysis for reactivity with each antigen. Ultimately, functionality is confirmed by successive affinity separations.

in vitro Antibody Production

QED Bioscience has a proprietary in vitro production medium that is designed to enhance antibody production in culture 5-25 fold over conventional media. Serum –free formulations are available. Production size ranges from small R&D scale to large scale commercial production. QED manufactures all products under conditions of cGMP to provide the best possible level of manufacturing control and product reliability.

QED Bioscience, Inc.
10919 Technology Place, Suite C, San Diego, CA 92127
Phone 800-929-2114 • Fax 858-592-1509
Email info@qedbio.com