The Development of Human Monoclonal Antibodies against Ricin by In vitro Stimulation (SBIR 90.I)

Abstract

Abstract : This SBIR proposal describes the development of an approach to immunoprophylaxis against ricin toxin (RCA 60). We plan to produce a ricin toxoid vaccine for the development of murine and human monoclonal antibodies against ricin toxin. In Phase I, we propose to produce and characterize a candidate ricin toxoid vaccine and use this vaccine for in vivo stimulation of murine lymphocytes and in vitro stimulation of human lymphocytes that secrete antibodies against ricin toxin. In Phase II, murine and human hybridomas secreting neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against rsch toxin would be produced by fusing Ag. 653 to muring splenocytes or EBV-transformed human lymphocytes to the heteromyeloma fusion partner SHM-D33. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are expected to be useful for both the prophylaxis and therapy of ricin poisoning.