Mouse Immune Libraries for the Generation of ScFv Fragments Directed Against Human Cell Surface Antigens

Antibody phage display libraries have frequently been used for the isolation of antibody fragments against potential target structures on the cell surface of different types of cancer. Independent from the source of V-regions and the antibody format, two general strategies have been followed in generating antibody phage display libraries. Either non-immune so-called na�ve (or synthetic) libraries or repertoires from immunized animals (or patients) were generated. Especially antibody phage display libraries derived from immunized mice represent an attractive approach because many classical immunization protocols are available and have been successfully used in combination with phage display. Using these techniques, valuable high affinity antibody fragments have been isolated and served as tools in research as well as starting points for the development of antibody-based therapeutics. In this chapter two strategies to generate scFv fragments that recognize surface antigens in their native states by using mouse immune libraries are described.