Method for immunizing an avian species
The present invention relates to a method for generating a plurality of different IgY antibodies, by immunizing each of a plurality of avian organisms of the same or different species with a composition comprising a plurality of different antigens, thereby generating a plurality of different IgY antibodies.
1. A method for generating a library of randomly generated IgY antibodies for targeting multiple ligands, said library comprising a plurality of antibodies, said method comprising the steps of:
a) generating a peptide library by random peptide synthesis, wherein the resulting peptides are randomized at each amino acid residue;
b) immunizing each of a plurality of avian organisms of the same or different species with a composition comprising a plurality of different peptides of the library produced in step a);
c) isolating antibodies from the yolk of eggs laid by the plurality of immunized avian organisms of step b); and
d) pooling said isolated antibodies.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of
e) targeting said pool of antibodies with a ligand; and
f) isolating a library of antibodies having affinity for said ligand.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ligands are not used for immunization.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in step b), each avian organism is immunized with at least about 100 different peptides.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in step b), a total of from 10 to 100000 avian organisms are immunized.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein between 600 and 7000 avian organisms are immunized.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the avian organism is a bird of the gallinacean type.
8. A method for isolating from the yolk of eggs laid by a plurality of immunized avian organisms one or more IgY antibodies with affinity for a ligand without prior immunization of said avian organism with said ligand, said method comprising the steps of:
a) generating a library of IgY antibodies by the method of claim 1 to yield a pool of IgY antibodies;
b) targeting said pool of antibodies with the ligand; and
c) isolating from the yolk of eggs laid by a plurality of immunized, avian organisms one or more IgY antibodies with affinity for the ligand without prior immunization of said avian organisms with said ligand.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each avian organism is immunized with at least about 100 different peptides.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein a total of from 10 to 100000 avian organisms are immunized.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a total of between 600 and 7000 avian organisms are immunized.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the avian organism is a bird of the gallinacean type.