Abstract
So far, no specific therapeutic agent is available for the treatment of ricin intoxication. Here, V^sub H^ and V^sub L^ genes were cloned from a hybridoma cell line secreting anti-ricin mAb 4C13, which could neutralize the toxicity of ricin. A chimeric antibody, c4C13, containing 4C13 mAb variable region genes fused to human constant region genes (gamma 1, kappa), was constructed. C4C13 retained the binding activity and recognized the same, or a closely related, epitope as the original mouse antibody. Furthermore, c4C13 blocked ricin-induced cytotoxicity to SP2/0 cells. Compared with its parental mouse antibody, c4C13 will be safer when used in human body to reverse clinical ricin intoxication.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]