BBI Solutions, Crumlin, UK, has released four new antibodies specific for the HIV-1 p24 capsid protein—the first products developed by the company using the internal antibody custom service expertise gained through its recent acquisition of Maine Biotechnology Services. A combined team of antibody and assay development specialists selected antibodies from a large pool of candidates screened with in vitro diagnostic (IVD) customer applications in mind.
The team used recombinant HIV-1 p24, also developed by BBI Solutions, as the immunogen to generate more than one hundred antibody candidates, which the team narrowed to four clones with sensitive and distinct binding characteristics for both recombinant and native HIV-1 p24. The result is six matched-pair combinations and a recombinant protein ready for use in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays or point-of-care assay applications. The new reagents expand the company’s HIV-1 offerings, which also include HIV-1 disease-state plasma and patient samples.
James Steggles, BBI Solutions.
BBI Solutions has also applied the antibody custom service expertise to its norovirus panel of antibodies, conducting antibody characterization assays to better understand the panel’s performance capabilities. The nine antibodies in the norovirus offering enable IVD developers to detect the most clinically relevant genotypes of genogroups I and II (GI and GII), using either a broadly reactive antibody or several clones that distinguish among genogroups or specific genotypes within genogroups.
Further out in the development pipeline, BBI Solutions plans to expand its offering of antibodies specific for mosquito-borne viruses. Planning includes immunizations with NS1 protein for dengue virus and Zika virus, with release of antibodies forthcoming. Other development goals include adding antibodies to the company’s chikungunya virus suite, as well as options for distinguishing between closely related arboviruses in endemic areas.
“This is an exciting new era for BBI Solutions to be able to have internal control over new antibody development projects and ensure we are bringing highly characterized antibodies to market ready for use by IVD assay developers,” says James Steggles, PhD, commercial manager for antibodies at BBI. “We will continue to leverage internal development capabilities to expand our reagent suites in the infectious disease and other important diagnostic markets.”
For more information, visit BBI Solutions.
