EBV-Transformed B Cell Lines for Human Antibody Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies from human sources are biologically and technically challenging, particularly in generating affinity-matured antibodies, as they often require laborious screening and extensive processes, and existing methods like human hybridomas and transgenic mice are inefficient or not commonly available.

Innovation Solution

A method involving obtaining a polynucleotide library from B cells, where each polynucleotide comprises an expressed B cell variable immunoglobulin region coupled with a distinct identification region, allowing for the production of affinity-matured human antibodies without the need for extensive screening or humanization, and applicable in various research areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If human hybridomas are used to produce therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, then human antibodies can be generated, but the process is biologically and technically challenging with low efficiency and spontaneous loss of antibody genes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of antibody gene expressionVSAvoidefficiency of hybridoma generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses EBV-transformed B-cell lines as an intermediary system instead of traditional human hybridomas. The EBV transformation immortalizes B cells while maintaining their ability to produce human antibodies, serving as a stable intermediary that avoids the instability and low efficiency of human hybridoma generation while preserving human antibody production capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the biological parameters of B cells through EBV transformation, changing them from transient, culture-limited cells into immortalized, stable cell lines. This parameter change (from finite lifespan to indefinite proliferation) resolves the contradiction by maintaining antibody gene stability over prolonged culture periods while enabling high productivity through continuous antibody production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If EBV transformation is used to immortalize B cells, then antibody production can be maintained, but only extremely small fractions of cells are affinity matured or recognize the target antigen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveculture longevity of B cellsVSAvoidfrequency of antigen-specific cells
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary enrichment of antigen-specific B cells before EBV transformation by using antigen-specific sorting or selection methods. This preliminary action ensures that the immortalized cell lines are derived from antigen-specific precursors, guaranteeing that the resulting cell lines both produce human antibodies and recognize the target antigen with high frequency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates multiple independent EBV-transformed cell lines from different antigen-specific B cells, generating a library of cell lines that can be screened. This copying approach increases the probability of obtaining affinity-matured, antigen-specific cell lines while maintaining the cultural longevity provided by EBV transformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If phage display libraries are used to produce human antibodies, then large numbers of antibodies can be screened, but the antibodies produced have low affinity and avidity without affinity maturation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of antibodies producedVSAvoidbinding affinity of antibodies
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes continuous antibody production in immortalized EBV-transformed B-cell lines, eliminating the need for repeated phage display screening and affinity maturation cycles. The continuous culture system maintains high productivity while naturally selecting for high-affinity antibodies through in vivo affinity maturation that occurred in the original B cells

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the expensive, labor-intensive phage display library system with a simpler, more economical approach using immortalized B-cell lines. Instead of continuously generating and screening large phage libraries, the system uses readily available EBV-transformed cell lines that provide both high productivity and high affinity antibodies at lower cost and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Manufacturing precision

If transgenic mice with human antibody repertoire are used, then affinity-matured human antibodies can be produced, but such mice are proprietary and not commonly available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaffinity maturation of antibodiesVSAvoidavailability of antibody production system
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses human B cells that naturally undergo affinity maturation in vivo, eliminating the need for transgenic mice with human antibody repertoires. The human B cells themselves perform the affinity maturation function through normal immune responses, making the system self-sufficient and widely available without requiring proprietary transgenic animal models

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3421591B1Identification of polynucleotides associated with a sample
Publication Date: 2023.09.27 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIV
  • EP3421591B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3421591B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3421591B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for sequencing, analyzing, and utilizing samples such as single samples. Also disclosed herein are compositions and methods for matching together two or more sequences from a sample. Also disclosed herien are compositions and methods for expressing and screening molecules of interest.