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SUMMARY:Prof Serge Muyldermans: Nanobodies\, a versatile tool for multiple
  applications - Professor Serge Muyldermans\, Vrije Universiteit\, Brussel
DTSTART:20170308T123000Z
DTEND:20170308T133000Z
UID:TALK69493@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Sue Griffin
DESCRIPTION:Llama and camels have unique antibodies comprising a homodimer
  of heavy chain polypeptides\, whereby the antigen is recognized by virtue
  of one single domain. A straightforward technology was developed to immun
 ize a camelid\, to clone the repertoire of antigen-binding fragments\, fro
 m which the antigen-specific fragments are identified after phage display 
 selections. The resulting recombinant\, antigen-binding single-domain anti
 body fragments are also referred to as Nanobodies (Nbs) because of their s
 ize of 4 nm by 2.5 nm in diameter.\n\nNanobodies are well produced in micr
 obial systems\, very robust and highly soluble\, bind their cognate antige
 n with high affinity and specificity. Very often the Nanobody recognizes a
 n epitope that is difficult to target with human or mouse antibodies. The 
 ‘humanization’ of a camel derived single domain antibody is straightfo
 rward. Probably\, the largest advantage of Nanobodies comes from their str
 ict monomeric behaviour\, the ease to tailor them into larger pluripotent 
 constructs and their functionality when expressed intracellularly. \n\nSuc
 h beneficial properties of Nanobodies over other antigen-binding fragments
  from conventional antibodies inspired many researchers to employ Nanobodi
 es as a versatile tool in various innovative applications in biotechnology
  and medicine as:\n•	a research tool to immune-capture the antigen from 
 complex mixtures\, \n•	a potent probe to trace (or eliminate) target ant
 igen within living cells\, \n•	an excellent diagnostic tool for non-inva
 sive in vivo imaging of tumors\,\n•	a therapeutic tool to eradicate tumo
 rs or trypanosome infection in mice models\,\n•	an anti-venom to protect
  from scorpion envenoming\n
LOCATION:Lecture Theatre\, Department of Pathology\, Tennis Court Road
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