Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been transformative in enabling the immune system, specifically T-cells, to target and eliminate cancerous cells. While there has been much progress in understanding the interaction between T-cells, tumors, and the mechanism of action of checkpoint inhibitors, there are still many remaining basic research questions. Answering these questions requires reliable reagents, specifically antibodies. This blog reviews the importance of checkpoint inhibitors in cancer therapy and describes some best practices for choosing the right immuno-oncology antibody for your research needs. 

August 2017: The Antibody Update

In the August Antibody Update, you can expect to find news of Zika virus herd immunity, the novel technique used to map the 3D structure of chromatin inside the nucleus, and the new way Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) can be detected early using CD4+ and CD8+ T cell blood concentration. Learn more at ProSci.

How to Detect Single Domain Antibodies

Scientists interested in single domain antibodies tend to know that they do not have constant domains. This leads to them asking; how do you go about detecting single domain antibodies? Find out here with ProSci!

May 2017: The Antibody Update

In the May Antibody Update, you can expect to find news of an enzyme inhibitor that increases the efficacy of anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy, the generation of induced pluripotent blood stem cells, and the rapid employment of the latest Ebola vaccine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Learn more at ProSci.

Why are antibodies produced in the body?

Antibodies are produced in the body to serve 3 major purposes in the immune system: neutralization, opsonization, and compliment protein activation. Each of these functions helps to protect the body from potentially harmful pathogens. Learn more at ProSci Inc.

April 2017: The Antibody Update

In the April 2017 Antibody Update, ProSci presents to you a virucidal peptide found in the skin of frogs, evidence of new and hopeful RNA-drugs, and the innate immune systems role in congenital autoimmunity. 

Antibody Basics: Selecting Antigens

Selecting the proper antigen is paramount for assuring  the development of desired antibodies; however, the proper antigen must still maintain immunoreacivity in order to develop antibodies. This dilemma can be solved for for several antigens. In this blog we discuss targeting glycosylated proteins and highly conserved mammalian proteins for antibody development.

March 2017: The Antibody Update

This month the Antibody Update showcases caffeine as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, how mTOR is related to granuloma formation, and a retinal transplant using induced pluripotent stem cells. Learn more here!

February 2017: The Antibody Update

This month's Antibody Update includes news on how your skin bacteria regulate levels of Staphylococus aureus, a new study using single cell sequence analysis to create 3D models of tumor tissue, and development of chimeric antigen receptor T-cells using CRISPR/Cas9 to enhance immunotherapy.

Problems with Immunotherapy

Immune system checkpoint inhibition may not always be the perfect way to target cancer. Why is it that some patients do not respond positively to certain immunotherapy treatments like Ipilimumab? This blog takes into account the immune system's convoluted nature to understand how immune checkpoint antibodies may not be the problem, and how personalized medicine could help.