The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 03, 1996
Georg Wilhelm Bornkamm, Munchen, DE;
Dirk Eick, Germering, DE;
Bettina Kempkes, Chestnut Hill, MA (US);
Nicola Maria Jochner, Freising, DE;
Lothar J Strobl, Germering, DE;
GSF-Forschungszentrum fur Umwelt und Gesundheit GmbH, Oberschleissheim, DE;
Abstract
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.