ISSN: 1745-7580
+44-77-2385-9429
Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Salima Lalani, Huma Kulsoom and Naveed Ahmed Khan
Aga Khan University, Pakistan
Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Immunome Res
Balamuthia mandrillaris is an emerging protozoan pathogen that can cause fatal encephalitis in humans and animals. Little is known about the pathogenesis, pathophysiology of Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis and its clinical diagnosis. In this study, we successfully isolated antibody fragments which specifically bind to B. mandrillaris using a bacteriophage antibody display library. Using two positive panning rounds, followed by a subtractive pan against Acanthamoeba and finally a positive panning round against B. mandrillaris, we were able to enrich several clones of phage library expressing single chain Fv antibody fragments (svFv) with binding affinity for B. mandrillaris. Individual clones were studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, as well as immunofluorescence assays and specific binding to B. mandrillaris. In conclusion, we were successfully able to isolate antibody fragments specific to B. mandrillaris using a phage antibody display library, which may also be useful in the identification as well as differentiation of other species of B. mandrillaris for diagnostic applications, and may identify novel surface proteins.
Email: naveed5438@gmail.com