Monoclonal Antibody Epitope Binning Services

Background Platform Service Published Data FAQ Resources

Epitope binning array of mAbs is a practical application of blocking assays in a diagnostic or research setting. The quest for a mAb that targets a specific region (epitope) on an antigen is often more important than the identification of a tightly-binding mAb, because affinity can be matured via standard protein engineering protocols. Creative Biolabs has been a leader in developing reproducible, high-throughput analytical techniques to characterize monoclonal antibodies by epitope binning.

Background

Antibodies are tested in a pairwise combinatorial manner, and those that compete for the same binding region are grouped together into bins. Antibodies that target similar epitopes often share similar functions. The ability to generate this information early in the drug discovery process enables researchers to “eliminate the funnel” by reducing the number of potential antibody candidates while maintaining epitope diversity. Binning assays can be highly informative to the discovery of therapeutic mAbs and can be predictive of functional activity.

Epitope Binning Platforms

Technical progress in human antibody discovery allows for the selection of hundreds of high affinity antibodies against many therapeutically relevant targets. Creative biolabs has introduced several emerging commercial platforms for epitope binning, including ForteBio Octet platform, ProteOn array system, Biacore system and IBIS MX96 & CFM, to handle binning of large numbers of antibodies simultaneously in an automated mode by redesigning the concept of a flow channel and the way in which samples are applied and/or delivered.

Epitope Binning Services

Creative Biolabs has the unprecedented ability to provide epitope binning services with over 99% accuracy and increasingly high efficiency.

Services

Creative Biolabs provides Monoclonal Antibody Epitope Binning services including but not limited to:

Key Benefits

Label-Free, Real-Time Results
High Throughput, Rapid Analysis
High Quality Data at an Affordable Price
Crude Sample Compatibility
Less Sample Consumption
Dedicated Data Acquisition and Analysis Software

Alternatively, you can also choose an ELISA test as a basis for epitope binning. We provide sandwich ELISA and competitive ELISA. For cell-based assay, FACS analysis is frequently used for binning measurement. Whatever you need, Creative Biolabs can help!

Other optional antibody analysis services:

Published Data

Human Antibody Epitope Map Containing Epitope Binning Data and Multiple Human mAb Structures

Fig. 2 Functional activity and epitope bins of Pfs25 mAbs. (Niharika Shukla, 2023)

Pfs25 is the main antigen of the malaria vaccine, which shows transmission blocking activity and induces a rapid decrease in antibody titer. A comprehensive analysis of all the transmission reduction epitopes of Pfs25 will provide information for vaccine structure-guided design and then the development of enhanced Pfs25-based vaccines. Here, the researchers compiled a detailed human antibody epitope map containing epitope binning data and the structure of a variety of human monoclonal antibodies. These structures demonstrate other epitopes in Pfs25 that can reduce transmission and extend this characterization to humans exposed to malaria. With this structural information, researchers will be able to develop more effective malaria vaccines.

Reference

Shukla, Niharika, et al. "A human antibody epitope map of the malaria vaccine antigen Pfs25." npj Vaccines 8.1 (2023): 108.

FAQ

What is epitope binning, and why is it important in monoclonal antibody characterization?
Epitope binning is a technique used to categorize monoclonal antibodies based on their binding to specific epitopes on an antigen. This method helps in understanding the diversity of antibody responses and can inform the selection of antibodies with unique or overlapping binding sites. Epitope binning is crucial for identifying competitive interactions among antibodies, which is important for therapeutic antibody development and mechanism of action studies.
How does epitope binning differ from other antibody characterization methods?
Unlike general binding assays that only confirm an antibody's ability to bind to an antigen, epitope binning specifically evaluates how different antibodies relate to each other based on the epitope they recognize. It provides a detailed map of antibody-antigen interactions and can reveal whether antibodies are competitive, non-competitive, or bind to completely different sites. This level of detail is unique to epitope binning and is not typically achieved with other characterization techniques.
What techniques are commonly used for epitope binning of monoclonal antibodies?
Common techniques for epitope binning include Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI), and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) based approaches. SPR and BLI are particularly useful for real-time, label-free analysis of antibody interactions, providing insights into the kinetics and competition of antibody binding.
Can epitope binning be used for all types of antigens?
Epitope binning can be applied to a wide range of antigens, including proteins, peptides, and complex structures like viruses or cells. However, the complexity of the antigen can affect the choice of technique and the interpretation of the data. For complex antigens, it may be necessary to use more than one method or additional analytical tools to fully understand the antibody-antigen interactions.
What role does epitope binning play in therapeutic antibody development?
Epitope binning helps in selecting antibodies that target unique and therapeutically relevant epitopes. By identifying non-overlapping epitopes, researchers can choose antibodies that might offer synergistic effects when used in combination therapies. Additionally, understanding the epitope landscape can aid in avoiding cross-reactivity with related antigens, potentially reducing side effects and improving drug specificity.
How can epitope binning contribute to improving antibody affinity and specificity?
Through epitope binning, researchers can identify antibodies that bind to different regions of an antigen. By understanding these binding patterns, it is possible to engineer antibodies with improved affinity and specificity by modifying them to enhance binding characteristics or by selecting those that target more accessible or therapeutically relevant epitopes. This targeted selection and modification can lead to the development of highly effective and specific antibody therapies.
What challenges are associated with epitope binning in monoclonal antibody characterization?
One of the main challenges in epitope binning is the complexity of antigen structure. Some antigens may have multiple epitopes closely located, making it difficult to distinguish between the binding sites of different antibodies. Additionally, technical limitations in assay conditions, such as antigen presentation and assay sensitivity, can affect the accuracy and resolution of epitope binning results. Overcoming these challenges often requires optimizing experimental conditions and possibly combining multiple characterization techniques.
How does epitope binning aid in patenting and intellectual property (IP) creation for monoclonal antibodies?
Epitope binning can provide critical data that strengthens patent claims by clearly demonstrating the unique binding characteristics of a monoclonal antibody. By showing that an antibody binds to a unique epitope not targeted by existing antibodies, developers can establish the novelty and non-obviousness of their antibody products, which are key criteria for patentability. This detailed characterization can be invaluable in securing IP rights and can help in protecting the commercial interests of new therapeutic antibodies.