Lectin-based process for chicken antibody purification

INTRODUCTION:

Hen egg yolks are an abundant source of specific antibodies, which are widely applicable (e.g. medicine, cosmetics). The immunogenicity of antibodies, however, limits their use. By enzymatic digestion the immunogenic saccharide part of antibody can be cleaved, but the separation of desired antigen binding part from the mixture is rather difficult.

TECHNOLOGY (INVENTION) DESCRIPTION:

The invention is based on the use of hydrophilic beads containing immobilized bacterial lectin, which is highly specific to saccharides present on egg yolk antibodies. The beads are able to separate a saccharide part of antibody and an antigen binding part in the digest mixture. The separation process provides a desired antigen binding part of antibody in solution. Moreover, the lectin beads can be repeatedly used after their regeneration. The invented technique extends the application of egg yolk antibodies for e.g. prophylaxis of bacterial infections of cystic fibrosis patients and antidote against snake or bacterial toxins.

ADVANTAGES OVER EXISTING SOLUTIONS:

The invention brings several advantages over existing solutions: 1/ fast and easy separation of a desired antigen binding part of antibody from unwanted saccharide containing part 2/ time optimized and economic process expandable to large scale 3/ repeated usage of lectin beads

DEVELOPMENT STATUS (STAGE):

The invention has been tested in a laboratory scale.

PUBLICATIONS:

HODEK, P., TREFIL, P., SIMUNEK, J., HUDECEK, J., STIBOROVA, M.; Optimized protocol of chicken antibody (IgY) purification providing electrophoretically homogenous preparations. Int. J. Electrochem. Sci., 8, 113-124 (2013)

IP PROTECTION STATUS:

TECHNOLOGY / IP OWNERS :

Petr Hodek, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic