Mating antibody phage display with proteomics

Antibodies are central to mastering the next main task of 'postgenomic' research: that is, to understand gene function by analysing the proteome. This analysis of more than 90 000 human gene products requires high-throughput methods for antibody generation. In contrast to animal-based methods, in vitro selection systems using recombinant antibodies offer this capability. Antibody phage display, the most commonly used contemporary system, has yielded hundreds of antibodies for therapy, research and diagnostics. Numerous cloning and mutagenesis strategies have been developed to create, preserve and exploit maximal antibody diversity, with libraries of different antibody formats constructed from different genetic sources. Evaluating the spectrum of phage-display antibody libraries indicates that the current focus on generating human therapeutic antibodies has yielded methods that are not readily applicable to postgenomic research. A streamlined process must be defined by closely integrating antigen logistics with library and antibody formats, panning procedures and robotic handling. Only by optimizing the interplay of biology, bioinformatics and technology can an affordable high-throughput process be created to meet the demands of proteome analysis and microarray technology.