Polyclonal antibody generation

AltaBioscience provides a custom polyclonal antibody generation service which is UK Home Office compliant. All aspects of the service are undertaken by our UK laboratories.

Certified to ISO/IEC 9001:2015 standard, our UK-based laboratories provide polyclonal antibodies against a range of antigens. All our facilities are based in the UK, ensuring the highest level of animal welfare, with all aspects of the service managed locally, resulting in fast and efficient processes. The antibody generation service provides polyclonal antibodies raised against peptides, proteins, live bacteria, viruses and a gene gun. Protein antigens can be sourced internally or supplied by you, or we can synthesise a peptide antigen to your design.

We offer a comprehensive production package, or you can select only those elements of the service you require from the following:

• Assistance in the design of the antigen.
• Peptide antigen synthesis. This can be as an 8-branched MAPs peptide or peptide-protein conjugate.
• Custom immunisation in rabbits or sheep, ideal when large amounts of serum are needed.
• Production of affinity columns for purification.
• Purification of the antibodies either by protein A, G or by an affinity column.
• ELISA testing of test bleeds against target.

Antibody generation process

The standard inoculation procedure for a polyclonal antibody in a rabbit involves six immunisations at two-week intervals and three bleeds (with an additional pre-immune bleed). If required, this program can be modified and/or extended to fit the client’s specific need, provided it complies with the license held by the animal facility. The standard program uses Freund’s Adjuvant but other adjuvants are available on request. Test bleeds are available for client assays after each bleed if required. The terminal serum is delivered at the end of the program, either raw or purified.

When raising antibodies, the selection of animal depends on the amount of antibodies needed and the characteristics of the antibodies being made. Larger mammals, such as sheep or goats, are often preferred as the amount of serum that can be collected is greater. If the phylogenetic relationship between the antigen donor and the antibody producer is distant, there is a greater potential for high titre antibody response.