title: Enhancing the avidity of a human recombinant anti-HIV-1 monoclonal antibody through oligomerization.
abstract: The oligomerization by chemical cross-linking of a recombinant human antiviral monoclonal antibody (MAb), r447-1, and its characterization are described. This MAb binds to an epitope residing in the hypervariable V3 region of the envelope protein (gp120/160) of HIV-1. A dimeric form of this MAb displays enhanced avidity and was found to be capable of neutralizing a greater variety of lymphoid cell culture-adapted HIV-1 variants and HIV-1 primary isolates than its monomeric form. The superior binding and breadth of reactivity of this antibody suggests it may have utility as a therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent, if it possesses an appropriate safety and immunogenicity profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Research, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA 19486, USA.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Irwin
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bruner
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Boots
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Conley
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000235:genetics*; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D002845:Chromatography; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D011506:Proteins