University of Southampton Scientists Engineer Super-Strong Antibody to Boost Immune Response Against Cancer

University of Southampton Scientists Engineer Super-Strong Antibody to Boost Immune Response Against Cancer

(IN BRIEF) Scientists at the University of Southampton have engineered a new type of super-strong antibody, which could significantly enhance immune system responses in cancer patients. By altering the shape and rigidity of antibodies, the team discovered that these modified proteins can trigger stronger immune activity, potentially offering a more effective treatment option for cancer. The study, funded by Cancer Research UK, demonstrated that the more rigid antibodies were better at activating immune cells, a promising breakthrough for immunotherapy development. The research has been published in Nature Communications.

(PRESS RELEASE) SOUTHAMPTON, 2-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Scientists at the University of Southampton have engineered a new type of super-strong antibody, offering potential for enhancing the immune response in cancer patients. These groundbreaking antibodies, which are more rigid than the naturally occurring versions produced by white blood cells, have shown to trigger a stronger immune response, potentially providing a powerful tool in the fight against cancer.

The research, funded by Cancer Research UK, focused on altering the shape and flexibility of antibodies, which are proteins naturally produced by the body to defend against bacteria, viruses, and even cancerous cells. By increasing the rigidity of these antibodies, the team discovered that they were able to enhance immune system activity, leading to a stronger defense against diseases like cancer.

The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature Communications. Professor Mark Cragg, from the Centre for Cancer Immunology at the University of Southampton, emphasized the significance of the research, stating, “Our study confirms that small increases in antibody rigidity can significantly boost immune activity, creating a powerful immune response against cancer. This approach works across multiple antibodies targeting different immune receptors, and could help in developing more potent drugs to stimulate the immune system to target cancer and other diseases.”

Antibodies, which are Y-shaped proteins, work by binding to molecules on the surfaces of harmful cells, including bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Additionally, they can be engineered to attach to receptors on immune cells, activating the body’s immune defense system. However, the ability of antibodies to effectively stimulate the immune system depends on their shape and flexibility.

Study co-author Isabel Elliott, a PhD student at Southampton, explained, “More rigid antibodies seem to be more effective in activating immune cells because they can hold molecules on immune cells closer together, triggering a stronger activation signal. On the other hand, floppier antibodies are less likely to achieve this.”

The Southampton researchers used advanced techniques to enhance the rigidity of the antibodies by adding extra bridges, known as disulfide bonds, between the arms of the antibody. These modifications were tested against standard antibody variants, showing that the more rigid antibodies were significantly better at stimulating immune cell activation.

Dr. Ivo Tews, a Professor in Structural Biology at Southampton, added, “Using supercomputers, we visualized the antibody structure in atomic detail, allowing us to precisely place extra disulfide bonds. The results confirmed that the new, more rigid antibodies were indeed more effective in activating immune cells. This concept of enhancing antibody activity by increasing rigidity could apply to many other molecules on immune cells.”

Dr. Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, highlighted the potential of the discovery, stating, “Improving our understanding of how to harness the immune system to fight cancer is crucial for advancing immunotherapy treatments. This innovative approach of engineering super-strong antibodies could play a key role in developing new therapies to help cancer patients.”

Read the paper at www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58773-8 .

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SOURCE: University of Southampton