Influenza virus hemagglutinin-specific antibodies isolated from a combinatorial expression library are closely related to the immune response of the donor.

Antibodies specific for the influenza virus hemagglutinin have been isolated from a combinatorial expression library generated using mRNA obtained from an immunized donor mouse. Sequence analysis indicates that the antibody heavy chain variable regions were derived from members of an expanded hemagglutinin-specific B-cell clone, in conjunction with one of two light chain variable regions. Moreover, the most frequently identified heavy chain variable/light chain variable combination is extremely similar to a heavy chain variable/light chain variable combination that has previously been identified among hemagglutinin-specific hybridoma antibodies. The results, therefore, demonstrate that these antibodies bear a close relationship to the immune status of the donor mouse and suggest that simple adaptations of this procedure might allow evaluation of the immune responses of species, such as man, in which conventional hybridoma techniques have to date proven ineffective.