Abstract
Immunodiagnostic products are based on the very specific interaction of antibodies and antigens. The developments of biotechnology of the past decades yielded big improvements, in both antibody and antigen production. Protein purification and recombinant DNA technology have enabled the production of large quantities of pure proteins that can be used as antigen in an immunodiagnostic system. Molecular diversity techniques enable the identification of the immunodominant epitopes of these proteins, or even the synthesis of molecules that mimic these epitopes. The hybridoma technology, developed in 1975, has yielded many variants now, and has enabled the production of large quantities of pure antibodies with a well-defined reactivity. A recombinant DNA technology was developed to make recombinant antibodies starting from the genetically programmed immunological repertoire. With this technology one has access to all antibodies that an organism could (theoretically) make, even without the need to immunize the organisms.
| Translated title of the contribution | Biotechnology as a driving force in the immunodiagnostic industry |
|---|---|
| Original language | Dutch |
| Pages (from-to) | 772-776 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Pharmaceutisch Weekblad |
| Volume | 130 |
| Issue number | 29-30 |
| Publication status | Published - 1995 |