The Process of Discovering New Antibodies by Using Sequencing

The antibody sequence can be used to create vaccines, develop new treatment strategies, and even analyze the functioning of the immune system. Below is the basic process of discovering new antibodies through sequencing.

 

Prepare Samples

Immune cell samples, such as lymphocytes, are obtained from the patient or experimental animals. These cells are the sources of antibody generation, and their internal DNA contains antibody sequence information.

 

Extract RNA

The RNA in immune cells is the carrier of antibody sequence information, and the sample needs to be extracted for RNA.

 

Transcribe to cDNA

It needs to be transcribed into cDNA by reverse transcriptase.

 

Amplify Antibody Sequence

Through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the antibody sequence in cDNA is amplified to make it sufficient for sequencing.

 

Sequencing

The amplified antibody sequence is sent to a sequencer for sequencing. The result of the sequencing is a set of base combinations of the antibody sequence.

 

Data Analysis

The sequencing results are input into a computer, and data analysis is performed through bioinformatics software to identify the antibody sequence with immune activity.

 

Experimental Verification

The identified antibody sequence is validated in the laboratory, such as by cloning and expressing the antibody, and then testing for immune activity.

 

During the above process, any errors in any step can lead to deviations in the sequencing results. When sequencing antibodies, it is necessary to strictly control the experimental conditions and quality to ensure the accuracy of the sequencing results.