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Identification of complement-targeting peptides using phage-display libraries

The Y402H polymorphism in factor H (fH) is strongly associated with age macular degeneration (AMD); HH homozygotes have a sixfold increased disease risk compared to YY homozygotes. Previously, the only way of identifying the Y402H status was by using molecular biology to detect the underlying genetic change, methods available only in specialized laboratories. We reasoned that a simple assay capable of detecting the polymorphic variants in patient serum would facilitate risk prediction in the clinic. Although the variants differ by only a single amino acid, we reasoned that monoclonal antibodies (mAb) might be generated that would differentiate the two variants, permitting the development of a rapid screening assay to reveal susceptibility to AMD from serum samples.

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