Antibody discovery

National Center For Advancing Translational Sciences

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The antibody discovery project harnesses the therapeutic potential of small biologicals known as nanobodies. By constructing a humanized llama phage display library for use here at NCATS, it is possible to screen for therapeutically relevant nanobodies as needed. The small size of nanobodies makes them ideal for binding inside protein folds and clefts that are generally inaccessible to conventional antibodies. This allows NCATS to pursue avenues of therapeutic development that have not yet been explored. Recent work includes identifying binders against the SARS-CoV-2 RBD were identified that could decrease viral cell entry. Through NIH collaborations, the binding of these nanobodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer domains were imaged by CryoEM. This research has been published and patent has been filed to protect the library. Additionally, a collaboration with NCI involved screening for modulators of CD206 that could trigger reprograming in tumor associated macrophages is underway.