Methods of constructing libraries comprising displayed and/or expressed members of a diverse family of peptides, polypeptides or proteins and the novel libraries

1. A library comprising a collection of members of a family, the family comprising a diversity of antibodies or functional fragments thereof, wherein the antibodies or functional fragments thereof each comprise a VH CDR1, a VH CDR2, a VH CDR3 and framework regions and the antibodies or functional fragments are encoded by DNA sequences comprising sequences encoding

(a) the VH CDR1, wherein the VH CDR1 comprises the amino acid sequence according to the formula -X 1 -Y-X 2 -M-X 3 - (SEQ ID NO:636), wherein X 1 , X 2 , and X 3 are independently selected from the group consisting of A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, and Y,

(b) the VH CDR2, wherein the VH CDR2 comprises the amino acid sequence according to the formula X 4 -I-X 5 -X 6 -S-G-G-X 7 -T-X 8 -Y-A-D-S-V-K-G- (SEQ ID NO:637), wherein X 4 and X 5 are independently selected from the group consisting of Y, R, W, V, G, and S, X 6 is selected from the group consisting of P and S, and X 7 and X 8 are independently selected from the group consisting of A, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, and Y,

(c) the VH CDR3, wherein the sequence encoding the VH CDR3 is from the CDR3 region of an immunoglobulin gene of a B cell, and

(d) the framework regions, wherein the framework regions comprises VH 3-23 framework regions or VH3-23 related germline framework regions.

2. The library according to claim 1 , wherein the antibodies or functional fragments thereof further comprise an immunoglobulin light chain, and said DNA sequences further comprise a sequence encoding the immunoglobin light chain.

3. The library according to claim 2 , wherein said sequence encoding an immunoglobin light chain is from a B cell.

4. The library according to claim 3 , wherein said B cell is from a blood sample from an autoimmune patient.

5. The library according to claim 4 , wherein the autoimmune patient is diagnosed with a disorder selected from the group consisting of systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome and vasculitis.

6. The library according to claim 1 , wherein said antibodies or functional fragments thereof are linked via a short linker to the final portion of M13 gene III.

7. The library according to claim 1 , wherein the diversity of antibodies or functional fragments thereof is displayed on genetic packages.

8. The library according to claim 7 , wherein said genetic packages are M13 phage.

9. The library according to claim 8 , wherein said DNA sequences are in a phage vector.

10. The library according to claim 9 , wherein said phage vector comprises a wild-type gene iii and a truncated gene iii for display of the antibody or functional fragment thereof.

11. The library according to claim 8 , wherein said DNA sequences are in a phagemid vector.

12. The library according to claim 8 , wherein said displayed antibodies or functional fragments thereof are linked via a short linker to the final portion of M13 gene III.

13. The library according to claim 2 , wherein the diversity of antibodies or functional fragments thereof is displayed on genetic packages.

14. The library according to claim 13 , wherein said genetic packages are M13 phage.

15. The library according to claim 14 , wherein said DNA sequences are in a phage vector.

16. The library according to claim 14 , wherein said DNA sequences are in a phagemid vector.

17. The library according to claim 14 , wherein said displayed antibodies or functional fragments thereof are linked via a short linker to the final portion of M13 gene III.

18. The library of claim 1 , wherein the functional fragments are Fab fragments or scFv fragments.