Antibody arrays for high-throughput screening of antibody-antigen interactions

We have developed a novel technique for high-throughput screening of recomb inant antibodies, based on the creation of antibody arrays. Our method uses robotic picking and high-density gridding of bacteria containing antibody genes followed by filter-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) sc reening to identify clones that express binding antibody fragments. By elim inating the need for liquid handling, we can thereby screen up to 18,342 di fferent antibody clones at a time and, because the clones are arrayed from master stocks, the same antibodies can be double spotted and screened simul taneously against 15 different antigens. We have used our technique in seve ral different applications, including isolating antibodies against impure p roteins and complex antigens, where several rounds of phage display often f ail. Our results indicate that antibody arrays can be used to identify diff erentially expressed proteins.