| abstract |
Described is a method of identifying antibodies against hitherto unknown ligands of orphan receptors or other orphan ligands, i.e., receptors or other ligands where the counter-ligand has not yet been identified. The availability of antibodies binding to the unknown ligand significantly facilitates their isolation and characterization, and the identified antibodies can themselves be useful for treating patients with cancer or autoimmune diseases, or other disorders. An exemplary embodiment provides for a method designated Identification of Therapeutic Antibodies by Competitive Screening (ITACS). Described are also fusion proteins comprising a soluble portion of an orphan receptor, such as NKp30, and the Fc portion of an antibody. The fusion proteins typically comprise a Flexible Transmembrane Linker (FTL), i.e., a linker comprising a portion of a transmembrane domain of the orphan receptor. |