Gsf-forschungszentrum Fur Umwelt Und Gesundheit, Gmbh

Nicola Maria Jochner

Georg W Bornkamm

Lothar J Strobl

Dirk Eick

Bettina Kempkes

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of human monoclonal antibodies from human B cells. According to this process, human antibody-producing B cells are immortalized by infection with an Epstein-Barr virus, or derivative thereof, that expresses Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2). EBNA2 function, which is required for immortalization, is subsequently shut off, which results in an increase in antibody production. The invention provides a variety of systems that allow expression of EBNA2 function to achieve immortalization, followed by reduction of EBNA2 expression or function to facilitate antibody production.

Growing community of inventors

Freising, Germany

Nicola Maria Jochner