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Express Rabbit (but the same protocol can be done for Goat and Chicken, please inquire about possibilities for other species of laboratory animals) is a protocol that allows to obtain polyclonal antibodies fast and of good quality. This protocol is based on using immunomodulating compounds, which are patented and/or patent pending.
The technology was co-developed by PickCell Laboratories with its partner companies and is exclusive to PickCell. It took us more than a year to perfect it. Injections of the antigen at fixed intervals, and delivery of the immunostimulators at proper time points, result in very fast production of IgG (mainly of IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b isotypes ). The titers of IgG produced are rapidly growing and reach a plateau at approximately day 18-20, after which it remains constant for up to 60 days. Therefore within 20 days IgG response reach the titters usually obtained only after a sequence of immunizations with a Complete Freund's Adjuvant (up to 60-80 days).
Such serum can be used in Western Blot or immunohistology at average titters of 1:1000-1:5000 (depends greatly on your detection system, we send recommended protocols).
The Technology
Any rabbit can produce some antibodies by day 28. But what you see above is a graphic representation of relative amount of specific IgGs produced by standardly immunized rabbit and rabbit immunized with our unique adjuvant IMMACCEL-R. After a prolonged immunization (say, 80 days) the same levels of specific IgGs may be reached in conventional protocol as well. But you want your serum to be ready earlier. And it's possible with Immaccel:
Above is shown the titration of specific IgGs of two main isotypes in serum obtained from normal immunization (black) and with the use of IMMACCEL- V (orange) by day 28. (Conjugate of a hapten DNP-KLH was used as antigen. The response may vary depending on the immunogenicity of antigen and Fv of a particular animal. Tested for peptides, fusion proteins, hapten conjugates).
To learn more about IMMACCEL-R download the booklet.
It's easy to place the order for Express protocol for any antigen, as well as ask for accompanying services (IgG or antibody affinity purified, peptide synthesis, and other).
To Order Rabbit Express Services >>>
Licensing Opportunity
The Express technology is based on IMMACCEL- R, a new generation central-action adjuvant accelerating immune response, promoting switch from IgM to IgGs, and increasing the IgG1/IgG2a titers up to 4-30 times. At this moment IMMACCEL-R is offered to business clients only.
Your company may license the use of IMMACCEL-R on the basis of a nonexclusive contract. This includes a license fee and supply with ready-to-use IMMACCEL-R at a special bulk price. The licensee also receives full technical support from our office, technical updates, and optimal protocols for different species of animals.
For a detailed report on technical and commercial advantages of IMMACCEL-R download the booklet.
for corporate clients.
For questions and/or license requests please write or call +31 20 751 21 71. | |
EVERY EXPRESS PROTOCOL INCLUDES:
- Setup of the animal
- 3 rounds of injections with antigen and appropriate immunostimulators
- Collection of blood at day 21 (15-20 ml of serum)
- Collection of blood at day 28 (60 ml serum)
- Use of appropriate adjuvant
- Serum analysis (ELISA) on the antigen
PROTOCOLS DO NOT INCLUDE:
- Pre-immune and Pre-immune screening bleeds
- Conjugation to a carrier
- Selection of the optimal peptide epitope
- Peptide synthesis and HPLC purification
To Order Rabbit Express Services >>>
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NEWS!
Another success
We were pleased to learn that we we performed a good work for yet another research group. Antibodies produced in Express Rabbit protocol using epitopes calculated by us were used in this interesting publication of our customers:
Swiatecka-Urban A, Talebian L, Kanno E, Moreau-Marquis S, Coutermarsh B, Hansen K, Karlson KH, Barnaby R, Cheney RE, Langford GM, Fukuda M, Stanton BA. Myosin Vb is required for trafficking of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in Rab11a-specific apical recycling endosomes in polarized human airway epithelial cells. J Biol Chem. 2007 Aug 10; 282(32):23725-36. |
Common Questions:
Q: How fast can I receive the serum from the day I have submitted the antigen?
A: We start protocols every Tuesday. If the antigen has arrived by Friday evening, the first portion of serum can be shipped to you on day 21 from first injection. For our European and Australian customers this may take a few days more.
Q: Is the procedure you use safe and non-harmful for animals?
A: This is absolutely safe procedure since the immunomodulators we use are of natural origin and are produced in the thymus of most mammals early in life time. There is no toxicity of the reagents at any dose (in contrast to i.e. cytokines). The main facilities where the immunizations are performed are AAALAC accredited. All procedures are in full compliance with The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (US) and similar Guides of European countries.
Q: Can you help to choose an epitope for a successful antibody?
A: We do this routinely. We can estimate the epitope, synthesize the peptide and make an Immunogen from it.
Q: How much of fusion protein is required for this protocol?
A: We advice to use up to 1.5 mg. of the protein, but as little as 300 mcg may be used. In part this is defined by the immunogenicity of the protein, as in normal protocol.
Q: Does you procedure increase the immunogenicity of the antigen?
A: Antigens that are very weak (not inducing a response in standard protocols) may be only slightly more immunogenic in the Express protocol. The immunostimulators use accelerate the response, make in fast and advanced. The response of a good antigen may be increased up to 100 times for IgGs as compared with normal procedure over the same time period, but the response to a non-immunogenic antigen becomes only slightly improved from the use of our protocol. However, if you do have such problem, contact us. We have procedures developed for such situations and shall likely be able to find a solution.
Q: How cross-reactive is the serum you prepare? Can it be used directly in IHC, blot, etc.?
A: Rabbits, in general, are guilty of having quite some level of autoantibodies, the usual source of the background in some applications. If the serum is of high titter, you simply use the dilution when these low-affinity antibodies are in negligible concentration. Our experience shows that absorbing the serum using i.e. KLH column reduces the background greatly. Alternatively, IgG fraction can be purified or specific antibodies isolated on an Antigen Affinity Column. All these additional services are available from us.
Our Customers:
Our Express protocol customers (many of them become returning customers) are all over the world.
In USA we work with various NIH Institutes, Stanford University, Harvard University, Yale University, New York Universities, MIT, Medical Schools and Hospitals, Washington University, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, Florida Universities, Oregon University, Vanderbilt University, University of North Carolina, and many other universities and research institutes.
In UK we serve among others Cambridge University, London Imperial College, University of London, Cancer Research UK, University Of Liverpool; in Europe - Pasteur Institute, INSERM, ISREC (France), Max Planck Institute, University of Erlangen, University of Leipzig (Germany), University of Basel (Switzerland), and many many other. We have many customers in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, Canada, Israel, Chile, Brazil.
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