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. 

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!

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.

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.

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.

T-cell Activation: The Purpose of CD28, CTLA-4, and CD80/CD86 

Cancer immunotherapy involves targeting receptors and ligands of T-cells and tumor cells to amplify an immune response. By targeting these receptors and ligands, T-cell anti-cancer activity can be regulated. This blog explains how the receptors CD28 and CTLA-4 and their ligands CD80 and CD86 are involved in T-cell activation and inhibition. Take a look!

Bacterial vs. Mammalian Expression Systems

This blog focuses on the differences between bacterial and mammalian cell expression systems. E. coli make excellent organisms for expression of several types of proteins, but do have limitations based on their cellular hardware. This is where mammalian cells can really shine, creating more native, natural proteins and effective antibodies. Learn more here!

Antibody Basics: Recombinant Antibodies

This Antibody Basics looks into the development of recombinant antibodies and their advantages over monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Learn about how recombinant antibodies can be developed through display systems, B-cell cloning, or directly from hybridoma. 

Antibody Basics: Isotypes

Antibodies come in several shapes and sizes, leading to a variance in properties and purposes. This Antibody Basics outlines each of the major isotypes of antibodies and how they are used. Some isotypes can be isolated incredibly easily while others may only be obtainable through recombinant techniques. Each has it's own advantages in different fields of immunology.

Antigen Preparation Infographic

We have created an easy to read infographic that sums up everything that nees to be done to prep your antigen for shipment in all custom projects. Check out the process and see how it's to make shipment of your antigen as smooth as possible.