This research is led by Dr Jacky Gilmour and Dr Paul Lloyd-Evans.

Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) specific immunoglobulin is currently prepared as a blood product using pooled plasma from hyperimmune donors. It is used to protect vulnerable patient groups from potentially lethal infection with VZV. Increasing numbers of patients are undergoing immunosuppressive therapy and require protection. There are concerns over the supply and safety of the current plasma-derived product. The aim of this work is to produce neutralizing, recombinant, monoclonal antibodies against VZV in order to replace the existing treatment. A panel of recombinant, human antibodies will be generated by cloning antibody cDNA extracted from cloned peripheral blood lymphocytes from immunized donors. Antibodies of different sub-classes will be generated by engineering techniques and expressed in different mammalian cell lines. IgG1 and IgG3 versions of one antibody have already been generated. Antibodies will be evaluated in vitro for their efficacy at neutralizing VZV infection of cultured cells. Selected stable cell lines will be grown at the BITS Clinical Biotechnology Centre for small scale clinical trials.

It is known that the carbohydrate content of antibodies is influenced by the cells from which they are expressed and the growth conditions under which the cells are cultured. The glycosylation state can affect the functional activity of the antibody and for this reason it is important to be able to monitor the carbohydrates present. Indeed, the European and US regulatory authorities responsible for licensing therapeutic reagents require evidence of consistency in primary protein sequence and glycosylation of recombinant antibody product batches. Several monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic and diagnostic use are being developed within BITS and the BioProducts Laboratory at Elstree. These include recombinant antibodies expressed from a range of mammalian cell types. 

BITS is currently investigating the carbohydrate structures of recombinant antibodies in order to understand their role in producing functionally active protein.

Carbohydrate analysis purified glycoproteins can also be undertaken on a contract basis.