Parasitic nematode infections affect 25% of the human population; however, most are chronic due to the parasite's ability to evade its host's immune system. This adaptability may result in part from the parasite's ability to vary its surface composition during the course of infection. The Politz lab studies the genetic control of surface antigen in a model nematode, the free-living species Caenorhabditis elegans. In this project, we used a phage-display library expressing human single chain Fv antibodies in phage M13 to isolate antibodies that bind to the surface of live C. elegans, for use as reagents to probe surface composition. Multiple sequential "pannings" of the phage library against the worms should produce phage that have been selected to have a high affinity for the surface features of C. elegans.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Darvish, Adam
• Hunt, Eric

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 06D453M

Advisor

• Politz, Samuel M.

Year

• 2006

Date created

• 2006-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-12-14