Vaughn Smider
Scripps Research Institute, USA
Title: Title: Cow antibodies: Unusual biology and new opportunities
Biography
Biography: Vaughn Smider
Abstract
Typical mouse or human antibodies have CDR H3 loop lengths of 10-15 amino acids, which often form a flat binding surface for contact with antigen. In contrast, cows can form CDR H3 regions of over 70 amino acids, which form novel ‘stalk’ and ‘knob’ domains that protrude far from the antibody surface. These antibodies utilize an unusual diversity generating system that alters cysteine positions and disulfide bonding patterns in the knob. The functional importance of this antibody system is illustrated by recent experiments showing that cows, unlike other species, can make a broad and potent neutralizing antibody response to spike antigens of HIV.