Molecular and genetic immunoprobes for biotechnology

Recent advances concerning immunoprobes are described and their biotechnologic potential is emphasized. Selected examples of immunoprobes discussed include interleukin 7, genetically engineered vaccines using live bacterial carriers, and applications of monoclonal antibodies (MAb's) for understanding and controlling blood cell malignancies as well as for analysis of prokaryotic cells. The fundamental and practical interconnections of these research areas are highlighted to show, for instance, that definition of lymphoid-cell lineages and identification of their various subsets are aided by MAb's and interleukins. On the other hand, understanding interleukins requires isolation of cell subsets. Likewise, designing vaccines presupposes a knowledge of lymphocyte subsets and of the antigenic mosaics of the pathogens against which the vaccines are directed. Dissection of antigens in cells and in infectious agents depends to a great extent on MAb's, which are also instrumental for cloning the genes encoding antigens for vaccine preparation and those encoding interleukins for large scale production of these molecules that are promising as immunotherapeutic and vaccine adjuvants. Last, brief mention is made of the uses of MAb's in prokaryotic cell biology to illustrate the long-range impact on these immunoprobes and, consequently, how they are opening new avenues for biotechnology.