I-STAR™ Technology
The human immune system responds to pathogens, like viruses and bacteria, by evolving in real time highly protective proteins called antibodies. The immunological history of these protective responses is archived in human memory B cells, a specialized type of blood cell. The I-STAR platform allows comprehensive interrogation of this memory B cell archive. Our technology is unique because it enables us to rapidly test the function of tens of thousands of natural human antibodies to find those with exceptional biological activities. The antibodies identified through our discovery process are appropriate for further study as novel therapies to help patients fight existing conditions.
- The I-STAR™ technology starts with memory B cells taken from a blood sample of a human donor with natural resistance to the disease of interest.
- Each memory B cell has the potential to differentiate and make a unique antibody clone.
- Tens of thousands of memory B cells are grown or cultured in very small chambers call microtiter wells at a density of one cell per well.
- These cells are then activated to propagate and differentiate into antibody-producing cells.
- Antibodies that are secreted into the culture medium are harvested in sufficient quantity to enable screening for biological activity.
- Once an antibody with desired activity is found in the screen, the gene sequence for that antibody is obtained from the corresponding antibody-producing cells.
- The antibody genes can then be inserted into immortalized mammalian cells to enable production of unlimited quantities of that antibody clone for further study.
Learn more about the Theraclone
I-STAR™ Antibody Discovery Platform (444k PDF)