Single-domain antibody discovery against food allergens using alpaca immunization

Overview

This offering provides end-to-end discovery of single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), also known as nanobodies, specifically targeting food allergens. Single-domain antibodies are minimal antibody fragments derived from camelid heavy-chain-only antibodies. Because they consist of a single monomeric domain with no post-translational modifications, they can be produced cheaply and at scale in bacterial or yeast expression systems, unlike conventional antibodies.

The service addresses a growing need for robust, specific binding reagents in food allergen detection, safety testing, and related diagnostic applications. By immunizing alpacas with target allergens and applying biopanning selection strategies, the team generates highly specific sdAb candidates that can be characterized, confirmed, and scaled for downstream use.

Technical specifications

Approach:

• Alpaca immunization with sponsor-supplied antigen (one to two inoculations per week for up to two weeks)
• Blood sampling (100 mL) followed by isolation of in vivo matured VHH (variable domain of heavy-chain-only antibody) cDNA fragments using established protocols
• Cloning of VHH fragments into E. coli for extracellular display of the sdAb library
• Biopanning selection through bead capture or equivalent methods to identify optimal binders
• Confirmation of hits by expressing individual VHH clones, followed by isolation and characterization via protein analytics and in vitro cell-based assays
• Scale-up and production method development for selected candidates

Key features:

• Leverages the natural in vivo affinity maturation process in camelids to produce high-quality sdAb libraries
• Bacterial expression enables cost-effective, scalable manufacturing without complex cell culture requirements
• Capability spans synthetic library generation and immunisation-based discovery
• Backed by a research service facility with experience delivering over 4,000 protein expression projects

Technology readiness level

This is an established service capability for protein expression and discovery, with the sdAb generation component representing a newly developed extension. The team is currently validating the camelid immunization workflow through a parallel project in a different application area, demonstrating active proof-of-concept. The full workflow, from immunization through biopanning, hit confirmation, and scale-up, is available for engagement. Estimated project duration is approximately six months with monthly update meetings, making the capability suitable for pilot collaborations and sponsored research partnerships aimed at developing allergen-specific binding reagents.