Lateral flow antibody development for allergens and mycotoxins
The Scottish Biologics Facility at the University of Aberdeen offers antibody generation and lateral flow assay development for allergens, mycotoxins, and other small-molecule targets. Leveraging 15 years of expertise in hapten and peptide binders, the team delivers high-affinity reagents and complete yes/no and semi-quantitative lateral flow devices for diagnostics, food safety, and environmental monitoring.
Overview
The Scottish Biologics Facility at the University of Aberdeen provides end-to-end antibody generation and lateral flow assay development for allergens, mycotoxins, and other small-molecule targets. With nearly 15 years of experience serving academic and commercial partners, the facility has produced diagnostic tests currently deployed in hospitals, veterinary settings, and water-quality monitoring programs. Core strengths include the generation of high-affinity, high-specificity binders to peptides and haptens, advanced conjugation chemistry, and the design of both qualitative (yes/no) and semi-quantitative lateral flow devices. Recent applications include snake anti-venom lateral flow tests deployed in hospitals in India, anti-cyanobacterial toxin tests used in Sri Lanka for water-quality monitoring against WHO thresholds, and semi-quantitative lateral flow tests under development for the Scottish shellfish industry.
Technical specifications
Antibody generation capabilities:
- Sheep immunisation to produce high-affinity, high-sensitivity antibodies that outperform binders raised in mice or rabbits
- Construction of 10 billion clone phage display libraries from sheep white blood cells, capturing the full antibody repertoire at the point of bleed
- Forced Epitope Selection (FES) strategies to maximise assay sensitivity and specificity during bio-panning
- Isolation of monoclonal binders along with their encoding genes, enabling protein engineering and molecular reformatting to tailor assay performance
- Established conjugation chemistry for attaching peptides and haptens to carrier proteins for immunogen and selection purposes
Lateral flow assay development:
- Yes/no lateral flow devices for rapid point-of-use diagnostics
- Semi-quantitative "cube" lateral flow tests capable of operating in complex sample matrices such as homogenised shellfish flesh
- ELISA assay development as a complementary validation platform
- Track record with hapten targets including small molecules below the radar of the natural mammalian immune system
Target applications:
- Allergen detection in food and environmental samples
- Mycotoxin screening for food safety and agricultural quality assurance
- Shellfish toxin detection for aquaculture and fisheries
- Water-quality monitoring for cyanobacterial toxins
- Rapid diagnostic deployment in clinical and veterinary settings
Technology readiness level
Multiple lateral flow products based on this antibody platform have already been deployed in real-world settings. Snake anti-venom lateral flow devices are in active use in hospitals in Southern India and in veterinary practice, while anti-cyanobacterial toxin lateral flow tests and ELISA kits are currently used in Sri Lanka for water-quality monitoring against WHO thresholds. A semi-quantitative shellfish toxin lateral flow test is under active development for the Scottish shellfish industry, with validation focused on performance in the complex matrix of homogenised shellfish flesh. The facility is open to collaboration on antigen preparation, conjugation strategies, and assay optimisation for new allergen and mycotoxin targets under appropriate confidentiality arrangements.
About University of Aberdeen
Founded in 1495, the University of Aberdeen is a comprehensive public research university in northeast Scotland, serving a mid-sized international student body. Industry engagement is enabled by the Foresterhill health campus, where researchers share a site with NHS Grampian to support clinical studies and rapid translation. Its position in the North Sea energy and offshore engineering cluster offers companies access to faculty expertise, relevant test facilities, and a talent pipeline with industrial placement experience. Research is supported by competitive awards from UK Research and Innovation councils and major UK charities, with additional support from Innovate UK and European programs. A dedicated technology transfer office supports IP, licensing, and spin‑outs, with access to incubator space and investor networks.
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