Generation and characterization of human monoclonal antibodies to G5, a linear neutralization epitope on glycoprotein of rabies virus, by phage display technology

The aim of the present study was to discover distinct human MAbs to RV with high neutralizing potency and a broad neutralization spectrum. A phage display technology was used to produce human scFv to G5, a conserved linear neutralization epitope on Gp of RV. A phage display scFv library with 6 x 10(7) members was constructed and the phage-scFv with 'antigen-binding' activities were selected with synthetic peptide G5-24. The obtained scFv genes were cloned into pET22b(+)/BL21(DE3) and from this we prepared purified scFv fragments. The assay of the specificity characteristics and neutralization capacity showed that two distinct clones with new human immunoglobulin V genes can recognize G5 specifically as well as neutralize different RV strains. They have potential for inclusion in an antibodies combination aimed for use in rabies PEP.