University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Alan B Diekman

John C Herr

Elizabeth J Norton

V Anne Westbrook-Case

Ann Westbrook-Case

S19 mAb, deposited under Accession Number HB-12144 at the ATCC, binds to a carbohydrate epitope of a glycoprotein found distributed over the surface of sperm. The carbohydrate nature of the epitope, its distribution over the entire sperm surface, and the fact that it is epididymal/sperm specific and not naturally found in any of the tissues of the female reproductive tract, make the glycoprotein, SAGA-1, a desirable immunogen as the active agent for a contraceptive vaccine, as well as a test standard for monitoring antibody titer. The antibody provides a diagnostic for the presence of sperm, as well as a topical spermistatic.

Purified sperm surface antigen, monoclonal antibody therefor and application therefor

The monoclonal antibody S19, expressed by Deposit HB12144, ATCC, effectively agglutinates a sperm surface glycoprotein, SAGA-1 protein. The mAB finds utility as a binding agent in a spermicide, showing a high degree of effectiveness in binding potential sperm. The protein bound, identified as SAGA-1, is the immunogen in a contraceptive vaccine, as well as the standard for determining antibody titer upon vaccination. The monoclonal antibody can also be used as a diagnostic to determine the presence, and amount, of sperm in a variety of samples.

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Charlottesville, VA, United States of America

Alan B Diekman