Mouse Antibodies

Antibodies for research or other applications are produced in vivo with the help and assistance of the immune systems of many different host species. Usually, the host species of an antibody should be the same as the target species of the study. However, this may not always be possible. In this instance, species cross-reactivity can be predicted by choosing an antibody from a host species with as close of a similar sequence as possible. A mouse antibody is an antibody that has been raised and derived in a mouse as the host species. The mouse’s immune system is tapped in order to produce antibodies against an antigen or target. The process starts by immunizing the mouse with an immunizing peptide (antigen). The mouse’s immune system will react with the foreign peptide and begin to produce antibodies against it. Typically, many booster injections are given to the mouse in order to maximize the amount of antibody produced. In order to test if the mouse is producing an adequate supply of antibodies, small amounts of blood can be drawn and tested. These samples are tested for titre (titer) or a range of the amount of antibody being produced by the mouse. Once an adequate titre is detected, blood is drawn and an antiserum is made. The antiserum contains antibodies as well as blood serum or plasma. Depending on the immunizing antigen, the antiserum can contain many different types of antibodies (polyclonal). The antiserum needs to be purified and the mouse antibodies can be extracted. These mouse antibodies are useful in many aspects of research for medical and other laboratory or scientific processes.

Anti-albumin antibody, raised in mouse, binds against serum albumin. Albumin is secreted by the mouse and is the main protein of blood plasma. Albumin is produced in the liver. Albumin is a transport protein that carries hormones and fatty acids. Mutations in the gene that encodes for the body’s ability to produce albumin can result in different anomalous proteins which may or may not have appropriate function. Anti-CD105 antibody, raised in mouse, binds against a major glycoprotein of the vascular endothelium. It is localized on the membrane and expressed in endoglin restricted to endothelial cells in all tissues except bone marrow. CD105/ENG is thought to play an integral role in the binding of endothelial cells to integrins and/or RGD receptors. Defects in ENG/CD105 are the cause of Osler-Rendu-Weber Syndrome 1. Osler-Rendu-Weber Syndrome 1 is a genetic disorder in which affected individuals develop arteriovenous malformations (abnormal blood vessels) in many areas in the body. The disease is characterized by frequent nosebleeds, gastrointestinal tract bleeding, seizures, strokes, shortness of breath, and the presence of large birthmarks called “port-wine stain”.