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Updated: May 19, 2026
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Generation of Murine Monoclonal Antibodies by Hybridoma Technology
Published on: January 2, 2017
Monoclonal antibody expression in mammalian cells
Richard Yi Zhang1, Wenyan David Shen
1Accurus Biosciences Inc, Dublin, CA, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|August 22, 2012
Summary
Transient expression in mammalian cells offers a reproducible and cost-effective method for producing monoclonal antibodies. This approach enables efficient antibody production for academic labs and smaller companies, overcoming limitations of proprietary large-scale systems.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- Bioprocessing
Background:
- Mammalian expression systems have seen significant advancements in monoclonal antibody (mAb) production over the last 20 years, with single-cell productivity increasing 20-50 fold.
- Current high-yield mAb production methods often rely on proprietary technologies and large-scale bioreactors, limiting accessibility for academic labs and smaller companies.
- Transient expression in mammalian cells has emerged as a widely adopted alternative for mAb expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe protocols for small- to mid-scale transient expression of monoclonal antibodies in shake-flasks.
- To outline procedures for large-scale transient production of monoclonal antibodies utilizing WAVE bioreactors.
- To present transient expression as an efficient and cost-effective method for recombinant antibody generation.
Main Methods:
- Optimization of cell line and expression vector engineering to enhance expression levels.
- Utilization of highly effective transfection reagents for mammalian cell systems.
- Application of disposable bioreactor technology, specifically WAVE bioreactors, for scalable production.
Main Results:
- Transient expression systems have achieved expression levels of several hundred milligrams per liter.
- The described protocols facilitate both small- to mid-scale production in shake-flasks and large-scale production in WAVE bioreactors.
- Transient expression proves to be an efficient and cost-effective strategy for generating recombinant antibodies.
Conclusions:
- Transient expression in mammalian cells provides a practical and scalable solution for monoclonal antibody production.
- This methodology democratizes antibody production, making it accessible for researchers in academic settings and smaller enterprises.
- The combination of optimized expression strategies and disposable bioreactor technology enhances the feasibility of recombinant antibody manufacturing.
