Optimizing the host bacteria to make a large naive phage antibody library in the recombination system

To prepare large naive phage antibody library, the host bacteria with high transformation efficiency is used in the Cre-LoxP recombination system.  The variable regions of immunoglobulin light and heavy genes were amplified from lymphocytes collected from adult peripheral blood and newborn cord blood.  The genes were spliced to form the single-chain variable fragments (scFv) by overlap PCR, cloned into pDAN5a vector and then transformed into XL2-blue MRF’ with the Hte gene.  Compared with XL1-blue strain, the size of the primary library was increased by 3.9 times.  The primary library infected Cre recombinase-expressing bacteria, and the genes between phagemids created many new VH/VL combinations.  The library was calculated to have a diversity of 1.7×10¹¹ and validated by the selection of antibodies against six different protein antigens.  This library provides the basis for further selection of antibody-based drugs.  It is the first time to report that XL2-blue MRF’ can be used to improve the diversity of the library in the recombination system.