# Engineering and Characterization of pH dependent Antibodies

> **NIH NIH R15** · NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $415,329

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Engineering and Characterization of pH dependent Antibodies
Antibody-antigen interactions have served as a prototypical model for better understanding
protein-protein interactions and protein design, as well as serving a vital role in life science
applications. Such antibodies are indispensable to a wide range of fields including cell and
molecular biology, molecular imaging, diagnostics, nanotechnology, and next generation
antibody therapeutics. While the goal of antibody engineering is most often focused on
achieving high affinity or stability, over the last several years, the Horn lab has explored new
directions in the design of protein interactions, namely the introduction of linked equilibria that
may be used to control (or regulate) antibody/antigen interactions. These efforts successfully
produced antibody variants with gain-of-function pH switches, allowing the protein interaction to
be modulated over a range in pH. This proposal aims to explore a new direction on these efforts
by investigating methods control VHH and Fab antibody interactions through the introduction of
acidic residues in the interface. This research has the potential to open new opportunities in
how antibodies may be used in therapy. Given the wide-spread use of antibodies in applications
where pH-based control provides functional advantages, the outcomes of this work are likely to
be wide interest.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10974952
- **Project number:** 1R15GM155846-01
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** James R. Horn
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $415,329
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10974952

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10974952, Engineering and Characterization of pH dependent Antibodies (1R15GM155846-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10974952. Licensed CC0.

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