Request for letter of support --
Monoclonal antibody generating resource center for X. tropicalis

Dear Colleagues,

We are looking for letters of support.

After several informal inquiries, it is apparent that one set of reagents that are lacking and would be tremendously be useful for many different types of studies in X. tropicalis, are monoclonal antibodies. We (Enrique Amaya and myself) are planning to submit a proposal for the September 30, 2009 deadline that mainly aims to develop of a platform to generate monoclonal antibodies and monospecific single chain antibodies (scFv-Abs) using novel technology based on the engineering cDNAs from any gene of interest identified in the X. tropicalis genome sequence. We would like also to generate X. tropicalis transgenic lines with cell type specific fluorescence reporter gene expression.

Although our proposal will focus on the characterization of surface markers of the myeloid lineage (e.g., macrophages, neutrophils), the methodology, transgenic lines, cell lines, vectors and antibodies obtained will be made available to the scientific community. Information will be made accessible through a web site linked to Xenbase. In addition, when the platform becomes fully operative, we plan to extend more widely its use for other investigators. We envision this being done by establishing collaborations with other researchers, or at least recovering some of the cost of consumables and labor with interested investigators. We also propose to establish an advisory committee composed of internal and external scientific experts, which could help us in selecting and prioritizing projects, as well as overseeing the function of the resource. We will also keep connected with the development of a Xenopus stock center in Woods Hole MA and that of the established stock centre in Portsmouth, UK. Of course any additional suggestions are very welcome.

Evidence for a wide interest in the development of such reagents and resource would strengthen our proposal. Therefore, we need to obtain letters of supports from interested colleagues. You can send the letters directly to my email address as an attached pdf. Below are some suggestions concerning the content of the letters.

Suggestion for the content of a Letter of Support

You should start your letter by stating that you are writing to support your colleagues’ efforts in developing a monoclonal antibody generating resource center for X. tropicalis. The title of our proposal is: “Antibodies and transgenesis to study the myeloid lineages in X. tropicalis” (PAR-09-240).

Your name, title and a brief description of your scientific interest, including a brief paragraph describing your current position, your accomplishments in your field and your support (especially if NIH). Any information relevant regarding your credential with regard to the use of Xenopus as a model system, would also be helpful.

You may then explain how such new methodologies and resulting reagents and animals, may benefit your own research project. You may also mention that, when the platform becomes operational, you would be interested to suggest other candidate proteins for which generation of monoclonal antibodies would be beneficial to the community.

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Jacques ROBERT, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Box 672
University of Rochester, Medical Center
Rochester, NY 14642 USA