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Roorkee: Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) have developed a high-diversity antibody discovery platform using shark-derived antibodies, a breakthrough that could aid the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer, infectious diseases and other conditions.
The research was conducted by a 20-member team from IIT Roorkee, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Ashoka University and AIIMS Delhi. It was published in the Dec edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
The scientists said sharks produce a rare class of antibodies known as Variable New Antigen Receptors (vNARs), which are significantly smaller than conventional human antibodies but remain highly stable. Their compact size allows them to bind to molecular targets that are often inaccessible to larger antibodies, making them attractive for biomedical applications.
For their research, the scientists created a library of nearly 300 billion distinct single-domain vNAR antibody variants derived from the white-spotted bamboo shark. As the source shark had not been exposed to specific pathogens, the library can be screened against a wide range of disease-related targets, allowing it to function as a universal antibody discovery system.
To demonstrate its utility, the library was screened against nine different targets, including viral proteins, cancer-associated molecules and snake venom toxins. In each case, the researchers were able to isolate antibodies with strong binding properties. Selected antibodies were further analysed to assess their structure, stability and molecular interactions.
“These shark-derived vNARs are exceptionally small, around 12 to 15 kDa, enabling better tissue penetration and binding to inaccessible protein clefts and functional sites. They also remain functional under extreme conditions such as high temperatures and low pH, giving them advantages over conventional antibodies,” said Prof Rajesh Kumar of IIT Roorkee’s department of biosciences and bioengineering and the study’s principal researcher.
The institute has filed a patent for the technology and entered into a collaboration with IMGENEX India Pvt Ltd to explore its diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
“By developing a universal, high-diversity antibody discovery system, we are strengthening the country’s capacity for faster disease response and accelerating the development of affordable diagnostics and therapeutics for those who need them most,” said Prof K K Pant, director of IIT Roorkee.
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