Human Antibodies - Volume 18, issue 4

Authors: Brown, Michelle G. | Vickers, Ivan E. | Salas, Rose Alba | Smikle, Monica F.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Dengue fever a mosquito borne viral infection is endemic to Jamaica. The seroprevalence of dengue IgG and IgM antibodies were determined in 277 healthy Jamaicans by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The seroprevalence of dengue IgG antibodies was 100% (277/277) while dengue IgM antibodies were found in 3.6% (10/277). A statistically significant association was found between the presence of dengue IgM antibodies and gender (males 10/105, 9.5% vs females 0/172, 0.0%); χ 2 = 17.0 , p = 0.000 . The high seroprevalence rate of dengue IgG antibodies and the presence of …dengue IgM in the healthy population are in keeping with the endemnicity of the virus in Jamaica. Therefore tests for dengue IgG antibodies are of limited usefulness in Jamaica and can be safely excluded from diagnostic testing as a cost saving measure. Serological diagnosis of current dengue infection should be centred around the dengue IgM tests although the limitations in the predictive values of such tests should also be considered. The results also suggest that the risk of emergence of the more severe forms of dengue, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) in the Jamaican population, due to the presence of enhancing antibodies, is high. Show more

Keywords: Dengue IgM, dengue IgG, jamaicans

DOI: 10.3233/HAB-2009-0207

Citation: Human Antibodies, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 123-126, 2009

Authors: Glassy, Mark C. | Hagiwara, Hideaki

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Pritumumab is a human IgG1 kappa antibody that has been derived from a B-cell isolated from a regional draining lymph node of a patient with cervical carcinoma. Specificity analysis of the antibody with human tissues showed the antigen, altered tumor-associated vimentin, to be highly restricted to various cancers and not normal cells and tissues. In various clinical trials in Japan 249 patients with brain cancer were treated with pritumumab. The overall response rate was between 25–30% with several survivors beyond 5-years post-treatment. The patients were on a low dose regimen of 1mg given twice a week for a course of …24 weeks for a total dose of 48 mgs per course. Pritumumab appears to be a safe and effective therapy in patients with malignant gliomas. Show more

Keywords: Pritumumab, human antibody, clinical trials, glioblastoma, neuroimmunology

DOI: 10.3233/HAB-2009-0209

Citation: Human Antibodies, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 127-137, 2009

Authors: Maddaly, Ravi | Srinivasan, Lakshmi | Balaji, Shruti | Paul, Solomon F.D.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Mitotic proteins are well characterized and their cell cycle regulation roles studied extensively. Specific mitotic proteins can be key targets for controlling de regulated cell cycles. In the present study, cytosolic proteins of CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells were isolated and used for generating a range of monoclonal antibodies. Of the two antigenic doses utilized, 20 μg and 15 μg doses gave fusion efficiencies of 52.1% and 31.5% respectively. The specific efficiencies were found to be 24.5% for the 20 μg antigenic dose and was 20.45% for the 15 μg dose. Further screening showed 20 MAbs to common mitotic and …interphase proteins, 5 specific to unique mitotic proteins and 3 to unique interphase proteins. MPFs do not exhibit species barriers and induce chromatin condensation and act as M- phase check point control molecules. Monoclonal antibodies to specific mitotic proteins can be very useful for various applications such as imaging tools, as possible mitotic inhibitors and also for affinity purification of specific proteins of interest. Antibodies specific to common mitotic and interphase proteins can also be of similar importance. Whole extract was used as immunogen also to present the mitotic proteins much better than isolated proteins. Show more

Keywords: CHO (Chinese Hamster Ovary) cells, mitotic proteins, cyclins, MPFs, MAbs

DOI: 10.3233/HAB-2009-0210

Citation: Human Antibodies, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 139-143, 2009

Authors: Tran, Ly | Beijnen, Jos H. | Huitema, Alwin D.R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Modalities like antibody based radioimmunotherapy and radioimmunoscintigraphy require the development and the use of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. For this, a radiolabeling procedure has to be designed for the preparation of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies. As the radioconjugate is intended for human use, it has to posses characteristics like preservation of the immunoreactivity, high (radio)chemical purity, and high specific activity. Therefore, the labeling procedure has to meet several requirements. To guarantee a reproducible quality of the radiolabeled product, the whole labeling procedure has to be performed according to the rules of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). In addition, to warrant the safety of …involved personnel, safety measurements have to be taking into account, to minimize radiance exposure. This review describes selected methods for the preparation of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies for human use emphasizing pharmaceutical issues such as manufacturing and quality control. Show more

Keywords: Radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies for human use, radiolabeling procedure, immunoreactivity, radiance safety, Good Manufacturing Practice

DOI: 10.3233/HAB-2009-0211

Citation: Human Antibodies, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 145-156, 2009

Article Type: Correction

Abstract: The online version of the original article can be found at: 10.3233/HAB-2004-13304 .

DOI: 10.3233/HAB-2009-0208

Citation: Human Antibodies, vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 157-157, 2009