Being biochemists, we started off thinking about antibodies. Natural antibodies select one feature of the target, for example, anti-A binds to the 'A' structure on a Group AB red blood cell, but no other feature on the same target, neither the 'B' and ‘O’ structures which are also present. (Yes, substance O exists.) To identify someone as Group AB you have to conduct two separate reactions with anti-A and anti-B; and you would need to be wide awake to distinguish it from an artificial mixture of A and B cells. The antibodies won't do it for you.
      The usual assumption is that selection by antibodies is good enough for all purposes and cannot be improved upon because that is Nature's Way. We have just seen how it might fail. In our technology different types of antibody (to be exact the binding fragments of each) are linked together flexibly enough that they can react simultaneously with different features of the same target    -    yielding a co-body. This improves discriminatory power because the combined antibody selects for two features at once, if two are present together. For example, anti-A linked with anti-B would give a new molecule, anti-AB. More than two antibodies may be combined, such as anti-A + anti-B + anti-O, giving anti-ABO.
      These kinds of reactivity do not exist in nature (and they would be very little use  -  this discussion is just to show the kind of thing that might be possible, using a familiar example). They are novel specificities.
       Applications: Again, being biochemists, we tend to go first for things we understand, in our field. There are potential applications in industry, science and Medicine; on this website for the moment we shall discuss only microbiology (rapid diagnosis of infections) and cancer (diagnosis and treatment). The latter is emphasised because of the long-term potential, but maybe the former will produce the first practical benefits. There is not yet a proven cancer treatment on the basis of co-bodies. Participation by individuals is invited for different reasons.

      Rapid diagnosis of bacterial, fungal and parasite infection. The proposed developments are discussed briefly on the participation page. An early requirement is to develop databases of distinctive cell-surface features then choose, adapt and store suitable antibodies or other binding entities ready for use. No such logistic facility exists today. Physical operations can be contracted out or developed in partnership with individuals or enterprises, and the option presently being explored is to do that in Europe.

     Cancer diagnosis and treatment. Importance arises from the nature of the cancer cell, which has surface features differing only slightly from the normal (www.cancerinfo.be). Antibodies are known which react with cancer cells but do not have sufficient discriminatory power to destroy them selectively. In co-bodies both selectivity and binding strength can be increased indefinitely. Furthermore, cancer cells are unique to each patient   -   no two cancers are identical   -   and change over time as the disease progresses. Thus an additional requirement is speed in putting together a co-body, when required, matched to the individual patient. Our technology provides for that. Early cases will be hugely expensive in time and resources: treatment will be available at first only to those with ample resources and who have priority access for themselves and their families.

      Excellent early business opportunities lie in the development of our technology for application in medicine, especially in diagnosis of infection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, though there are many other applications of the technology in industry and science. An advantage is that although using biological components, we have clear physical understanding. All this is briefly explained on other pages, with more detailed references.

      Contact: info@hybridantibodies.com or +4420 78200098