Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) This procedure describes requirements for the production of custom antibodies.

Transcription

1 1. Purpose Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) This procedure describes requirements for the production of custom antibodies. 2. Scope This SOP is applicable to all ISU staff, research investigators, and technicians who oversee the production or purchase of custom antibodies. 3. General Requirements The ISU IACUC requires investigators who use outside vendors for custom antibody production to use vendors who have an active PHS Assurance. The purchase of custom polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies requires the submission and approval of an animal use protocol through the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). 4. Procedure A. All ISU investigators are encouraged to use the ISU Hybridoma Facility for custom polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. If the ISU Hybridoma Facility is used, there is already an ISU IACUC approval in place, and ISU has the PHS Assurance and Animal Welfare Act Research license. This means that the production of custom antibodies at the ISU Hybridoma Facility is already in full compliance with the Public Health Service rules regarding activities covered by the PHS Policy. The Hybridoma Facility of the Office of Biotechnology provides valuable resources for scientists who need monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies but do not have the appropriate equipment or are not experienced in antibody production techniques. A wide array of procedures can be customized to meet the researcher s individual requirements. These techniques are provided on an individual charge basis and include animal immunization, cell fusion and hybridoma culture maintenance, cell culture and maintenance of other cell lines used in biotechnology and virology labs, large-scale mammalian cell culture (bioreactor), blood sera collection, antibody purification and isotyping, cryopreservation and cryostorage of cell lines (-140 degrees centigrade), and ELISA tests. The hybridoma projects are usually screened and selected by the client; however, the facility can do the screening and/or training of lab personnel when needed. A hybridoma project usually requires three to five months for completion. Office for Responsible Research Page 1 of 5

2 B. If the ISU principal investigator wants to use an outside facility for custom antibody production for PHS-funded studies, they must follow the steps listed below: 1. Check YES on the PHS grant face page regarding use of animals. 2. Provide s PHS Assurance number (A3236) in box 5b. 3. In the text of the grant the PHS Assurance number from the company providing the antibody production service should be provided. 4. Explain in the text of the grant the rationale for animal use and logistics of obtaining the custom antibodies. 5. Provide the IACUC office with the name of the custom antibody provider and their PHS Assurance number. 6. If USDA covered species are used to produce the custom antibodies (rabbit, sheep) then the custom antibody provider must also have an appropriate USDA license, which must also be provided to the ISU IACUC. C. In deferring the majority of the protocol review to the contracted production agency, the IACUC retains responsibility to obtain documentation indicating the activity was reviewed and approved by the IACUC of the contracted producer and that the contracted producer is a registered facility with the USDA and possesses a valid PHS Assurance. D. In reviewing an application for contracted polyclonal or monoclonal antibody production, the IACUC office shall verify that the contracted agency or firm has a valid PHS Assurance and, if a covered species is involved, that the agency or firm is registered with the United States Department of Agriculture as a research facility. A copy of the contracted agency or firm s IACUC protocol approval and date shall be included in the protocol file as an attachment. E. The IACUC also retains a responsibility to ensure that the contracted production is scientifically justified, minimizes pain and distress to the animals involved, and is not duplicative. Ideally, when available, a complete copy of the polyclonal or monoclonal antibody protocol being used by the contracted agency or firm, including details concerning adjuvants used, the injection protocol, and analgesics used will be submitted and attached to the protocol file. The investigator must make a good faith effort to identify and use commercially available antibodies potentially suitable for the proposed work. The use of on-line antibody search engines ( should be an integral component of the search for duplication. F. The purchase of commercially available polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies does not require the submission of an animal use protocol or approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Commercially available antibodies are those already produced and available, usually through company catalogs or antibody suppliers such as Abcam ( Office for Responsible Research Page 2 of 5

3 5. Roles and Responsibilities Roles Responsibilities Principle Investigators (PIs) Oversee the conduct of IACUCapproved research protocols 6. Definitions Custom antibodies are those antibodies made by using an antigen provided by the investigator or at the request of the investigator or through the generation of a specific polypeptide that is then used to immunize animals to produce antibodies. Antibodies that can be purchased that are pre-made, or off-the shelf are not custom antibodies. 7. Appendices n/a 8. Forms and Templates n/a 9. References The Public Health Service first clarified this requirement in 1995 in an OPRR REPORTS (Number 95-02, Animal Welfare, March 8, 1995) distributed to all PHS-funded institutions ( A common example of this is the production of antibodies using antigens provided by an investigator ("custom" antibodies) in animals. Institutions and investigators should be aware that if animals are utilized to produce such antibodies for use in PHS supported research, the organization producing those antibodies must either have on file with OPRR (now OLAW) an approved Animal Welfare Assurance (Assurance) or be included as a component of the applicant organization's Assurance. In addition, if species covered by the Animal Welfare Act are utilized, the producer must be registered as a "Research Facility" with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Public Health Service requirements were further clarified in 2001 with the release of a Notice in the Federal Register (NOT-OD , February 12, 2001) [ Office for Responsible Research Page 3 of 5

4 If both institutions have full PHS Assurances, they may exercise discretion in determining which IACUC reviews research protocols and under which institutional program the research will be performed. It is recommended that if an IACUC defers protocol review to another IACUC, then documentation of the review should be maintained by both committees. Similarly, an IACUC would want to know about any significant questions or issues raised during a semiannual program inspection by another IACUC of a facility housing a research activity for which that IACUC bears some responsibility or exposure. The generation of custom antibodies is an activity involving vertebrate animals and covered by PHS Policy. Antibodies are considered customized if produced using antigen(s) provided by or at the request of the investigator (i.e., not purchased off-the-shelf). An organization producing custom antibodies for an awardee must have or obtain an Assurance, or be included as a component of the awardee s Assurance. In addition, the awardee must provide verification of project-specific IACUC approval for the production of the antibodies. (From: There are many circumstances that involve partnerships between collaborating institutions or relationships between institutional animal care programs. Interinstitutional collaborations have the potential to create ambiguities. Therefore, it is imperative that institutions define their respective responsibilities. OLAW and APHIS agree that review of a research project or evaluation of a program or facility by more than one recognized IACUC is not a federal requirement. Institutions should have a formal written understanding (e.g., memorandum of understanding) that addresses responsibilities for animal care and use, ownership, and IACUC review and oversight (Guide page 15). PHS Policy requires that all awardees and performance sites hold an approved Animal Welfare Assurance. If an institution does not have an animal care and use program, facilities to house animals, and an IACUC, the awardee institution will conduct the animal activity at an Assured institution (performance site). Assured institutions also have the option to amend their Assurance to cover performance sites that do not have an approved Assurance with OLAW, which effectively subjugates the performance site to the Assured institution and makes the Assured institution responsible for the performance site. If both the awardee institution and the performance site institution have Domestic Assurances, they may exercise discretion in determining which IACUC reviews animal activities and under which institutional program the research will be performed. There is no requirement for dual review; IACUCs may choose which IACUC will review protocols for the animal activities being conducted. It is recommended that if an IACUC defers protocol review to another IACUC, documentation of the review should be maintained by both committees. Additionally, the IACUC conducting the review should notify the other IACUC of significant questions or issues raised during a semiannual program inspection of a facility housing a research activity for which that IACUC bears some oversight responsibility. (From: Office for Responsible Research Page 4 of 5

5 10. Contact Information Direct questions about this document to: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee,, , The Attending Veterinarian, Dr. Mary Sauer, VMD, , _ Additional Signee (if applicable) Date Signed _ Signature of IACUC Chair or Co-Chair Date Signed Implementation Date Office for Responsible Research Page 5 of 5