About this Research Topic
Since the 1980s, several different display technologies have sprung from the original concepts at the core of phage display: diversity generation; phenotype/genotype coupling; the application of selection pressure and amplification. In the field of antibody discovery, available display platforms have exploited both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, but all share the great advantage that antibodies can be generated against any target, including self-antigens, toxins, and non-immunogenic targets, since the libraries of potential binders displayed are not constrained by the immune system.
The goal of this research topic is first to highlight and promote the powerful use of different in vitro display platforms, including but not limited to phage, yeast, ribosome, and mammalian display; and secondly, the generation and use of different displayed molecules with potential therapeutic value, comprising scFvs, scFabs, Fabs, single domain antibodies and other molecules. We also encourage articles describing new strategies that go beyond display technologies but support the discovery and functional screening of monoclonal antibodies, such as microfluidic next-generation sequencing which can be implemented with all display platforms. In the end, the main goal of this research topic is to familiarize scientists, particularly those working with in vivo systems, of the great potential of such technologies to generate and describe antibody repertoires, discover new potential therapeutic molecules and their engineering.
We encourage the submission of reviews and original research articles dealing with all aspects of the immunological display technologies:
• Research on the evolution and engineering of novel and better antibody libraries.
• Studies on the development of new-generation protein scaffolds for molecular recognition.
• Research on the evolution of new selection strategies for function or novel/challenging targets.
Also of interest is the application of display technology to fields of modern medicine, including the analysis and understanding of immunological processes in human pathological conditions:
• Molecular dissection of the autoantibodies involved in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases.
• Investigation at the molecular level of the antibody response against pathogens.
• Evaluation of the humoral response in cancer.
• Development of new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Keywords: Display technologies, phage display, yeast display, antibodies, protein interaction, molecular immunology.
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.