System for production of antibodies and their derivatives

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and compositions for the production of chimeric antibodies that specifically bind an antigen of interest.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for detecting an antigen of interest in a sample, comprising the steps of (a) contacting the sample with an antibody that specifically binds the antigen under conditions that promote the formation of an antibody-antigen complex, (b) contacting the antibody-antigen complex with a fusion protein comprising (i) the immunoglobulin-binding domains of staphylococcal protein A and streptococcal protein G, and (ii)  Metridia longa  luciferase or a derivative lacking the N-terminal region, under conditions that promote binding of the fusion protein to the antibody-antigen complex, and (c) detecting the  Metridia longa  luciferase. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fusion protein is encoded by a vector selected from the group consisting of pS14L-spAG-MLuc16, pETspAG-ΔN-MLuc1, and pS14L-spAG-ΔN-MLuc15. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fusion protein is encoded by pS14L-spAG-MLuc16 or pETspAG-ΔN-MLuc1. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fusion protein is encoded by pS14L-spAG-ΔN-MLuc15. 
     
     
         20 . An IgG fusion protein comprising IgG heavy chains fused with a peptide or polypeptide selected from the group consisting of green fluorescent protein (GFP),  Metridia longa  luciferase, cellulose binding domain, 6× histidine, or a biotinylatable peptide.