Description:
NIAID has a hybridoma available for non-exclusive licensing that produces a monoclonal antibody specific for DNA/RNA hybrids. This antibody, which has been extensively characterized by NIH researchers, is already a widely-used research tool. It is currently the only monoclonal antibody available that is specific for DNA/RNA hybrids, making it a unique reagent. It is used in immuno-fluorescence (IF) microscopy, where it can be used to detect sites of transcriptional activity and potentially sites of viral replication. It has also been used in DNA/RNA immunoprecipitation (DRIP) experiments by a variety of researchers.
Aside from its use as a research tool, this antibody has potential to be used in diagnostic kits for viral/bacterial infections, cancers, and a variety of other human diseases. DNA/RNA hybrids arise during normal cellular function, but they are typically present in cells at low levels. When DNA/RNA hybrids are found at high levels in a cell, it indicates that the cell is "abnormal". For example, the cell may be cancerous or infected with a virus. NIH researchers have also incorporated the antibody into a micro-array platform, expanding its potential for use in diagnostic devices.
This technology is available for licensing for commercial development in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR Part 404, as well as for further development and evaluation under a research collaboration.