Novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies with genetically engineered human antibodies

Human antibodies can be generated by recombinant technology. The human immunoglobulin repertoire can be tapped in an effective manner by the so called V gene phage display technology. Using this technique the genes encoding the variable domains of an antibody of interest can be captured from the B cell repertoire. With these V genes tailor-made immune recognition molecules can be obtained by a 'design and build' strategy. These novel developments will lead to the introduction of a manifold of antibody based therapies into the clinic in coming decades. Recombinant antibody technology also provides unique opportunities to study the molecular structure of antibody variable domains against blood cell antigens. Such studies might possibly lead to the development of new therapies for antibody mediated blood cell destruction.