Selection of single chain human monoclonal antibody (scFv) against Rabies virus by phage display technology

Human monoclonal antibodies against Rabies virus were selected from non-immunized human scFv library (YAMO-I library) and immunized library (Yamo-Rb library) by using phage display technology. The biopanning was performed for 2-5 rounds by using two types of inactivated rabies vaccines as targets. These are purified vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) and purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCEC). A total of 14 positive clones from various method of biopanning that can bind to rabies, i.e.; IRA7c, IIIRC2c, IRC3c, IYCllc, IYCI2c, IYD1c, IYF5c, IIRD5v, IIYB5v, IIYG4v, IIYE5v, IIYG8v, IIYD4v and IVB4cv, were isolated and their genes were sequenced. The ELISA result showed that the positive clones always bind strongly to the targets that were used for biopanning; however some clones can cross-react to the related virus. These selected scFv antibodies will be tested for neutralization activities in vitro in the next step.