Antibody categorization based on binding characteristics

Abstract

Methods for categorizing antibodies based on their epitope binding characteristics are described. Methods and systems for determining the epitope recognition properties of different antibodies are provided. Also provided are data analysis processes for clustering antibodies on the basis of their epitope recognition properties and for identifying antibodies having distinct epitope binding characteristics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An antibody competition assay method for determining antibodies that bind to an epitope on an antigen, comprising:
 providing a set of antibodies that bind to an antigen;   labelling each antibody of said set to form a labelled reference antibody set such that each labelled reference antibody is distinguishable from every other labelled reference antibody in said labelled reference antibody set;   selecting a probe antibody from said set of antibodies that bind to the antigen;   contacting said probe antibody with said labelled reference antibody set in the presence of said antigen;   detecting said probe antibody in a complex comprising said antigen, one labelled reference antibody bound to said antigen, and said labelled probe antibody bound to said antigen;   identifying each said labelled reference antibody bound to said antigen in each said complex;   determining whether said probe antibody competes with any reference antibody in said labelled reference antibody set, wherein competition indicates that said probe antibody binds to the same epitope as another antibody in said set of antibodies that bind to an antigen.