PHAGE CLUB: The biotechnological use and further development of phage display

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 96.0046-2
• Projekttitel Englisch: PHAGE CLUB: The biotechnological use and further development of phage display

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Phage display; library; selection; molecular evolution

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: BIO4CT960389

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 4.1 Biotechnology

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

Coordinator: Andrew Bradbury (IT)

Abstract (Englisch)

Phage display is a relatively new technique which involves the expression of peptides or proteins on the surface of phage as fusion proteins attached to normal phage proteins. The coupling of a protein on the surface of a phage with the gene which encodes it within the phage allows the coupling of phenotype and genotype. This has permitted the development of three broad applications: 1) the identification of binding partners for many important proteins; 2) the isolation of fully human antibodies recognising antigens of interest; 3) the modification of protein properties. The objectives of this large concerted action were to bring together most of the groups in Europe actively using, or developing improved, phage display methods. By regular meetings and lab visits it has proved possible to exchange reagents, protocols and junior staff, in such a way that exciting developments are rapidly communicated among partners of the concerted action.
The first meeting of the phage club was held in Smolenice Castle, approximately eighty participants represented all but one of the twenty five laboratories in the concerted action. A number of prestigious speakers from the US and Europe also attended. Many collaborative links (described below) were established during this meeting, some of which would not have arisen without the collaborative platform provided by this concerted action. A detailed report of the meeting which was published in Immunotechnology is enclosed.
In addition to the phage club meeting, a number of phage club members participated in and were involved in the organisation of a joint meeting of the Phage Club and the Biochemical Society in Galway. This was very well attended and permitted the creation and consolidation of further collaborative exchanges.
An email mailing list has been established. This is frequently used by members of the phage club to ask for help with reagents, protocols or positions which need filling. A web site has also been established.
In order to bring this valuable technique to as many European scientists as possible, five members of the concerted action organised an EMBO practical course on phage display in Trieste, Italy. Sixteen students from all parts of Europe attended. Other members of the concerted action were invited to give talks to the students. A similar course is planned for 1999 in Maastricht.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 96.0046-2