OBJECTIVETo construct a human phage display antibody library, which will help to develop new drugs and vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and solve many of the issues that have limited the progression and application of murine monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) in the clinic. This can provide a platform for human antibody preparation and diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy of RSV infection in children.

METHODSPeripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from 52 children with RSV infection. cDNA was synthesized from the total RNA of lymphocytes. The light and heavy chain Fd (VH-CH1) fragments of immunoglobulin gene were amplified by RT-PCR. The amplified products were cloned into phagemid vector pComb3x and the clone samples were electrotransformed into competent E.coli XL1-Blue. The transformed cells were then infected with M13K07 helper phage to yield recombinant phage antibody of Fabs. The plasmids extracted from amplified E.coli were digested with restriction endonucleases Sac I, Xba I, Spe I and Xho I to monitor the insertion of the light or heavy chain Fd genes. RSV virions were utilized as antigens to screen Fab antibodies.

RESULTSBy recombination of light and heavy chain genes, an immune Fab phage display antibody library against RSV containing 2.08x10(7) different clones was constructed, in which 70% clones had light chains and heavy chain Fd genes. The capacity of Fab phage antibody gene library was 1.46x10(7) and the titre of the original Fab antibody library was about 1.06x10(12) pfu/mL. The antibody library gained an enrichment in different degrees after the preliminary panning.

CONCLUSIONSUtilizing the technology of phage display, an immune Fab phage display antibody library against RSV was successfully constructed in this study, which laid a valuable experimental foundation for further study and created favorable conditions for preparing human McAbs. This may also contribute to the improvement in the diagnosis, therapy and prophylaxis of RSV infection in children.