Biological Reagents Core

The Core for Biological Reagents goal is to provide novel reagents to the scientific community to study various aspects of innate immunity. To attain this objective, the Core produces recombinant forms of innate immune receptors using protein engineering and various expression systems (see below). After expression and purification to homogeneity, recombinant molecules are used for structural studies, interaction studies, as well as for immunization of rodents for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Antibodies are characterized by the Core and collaborators before being distributed through commercial licensing or public access (i.e., through the NIAID Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources Repository (BEI Resource): http://www.beiresources.org/ ). The characterized antibodies can be obtained through these sources.

The Core is open to all investigators as a resource for the production of unique monoclonal antibodies. However, all antibodies produced by the facility will be placed in the public domain and distributed without restriction. Before sending recombinant proteins or cDNAs for proteins of interest, contact should be established with Dr. Luc Teyton, director of the Core (lteyton@scripps.edu). Priority for projects is on a first come-first serve basis.