Patent ID: 8685898

Claim:
A method, comprising: generating a first cDNA sequence library comprising a first set of target antibody cDNA sequences, said first set of target antibody cDNA sequences obtained from a first sample comprising lymphocytes of a host subject that has not been immunized with an antigen and each of said first set of target antibody cDNA sequences comprising an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain variable domain sequence, wherein generating said first cDNA sequence library comprises amplifying said first set of target cDNA sequences and sequencing said amplified first set of target cDNA sequences; generating a second cDNA sequence library comprising a second set of target antibody cDNA sequences, said second set of target antibody cDNA sequences obtained from a second sample comprising lymphocytes of said host subject after being immunized with said antigen and each of said second set of target antibody cDNA sequences comprising an immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain variable domain sequence, wherein generating said second cDNA sequence library comprises amplifying said second set of target cDNA sequences and sequencing said amplified second set of target cDNA sequences; analyzing the frequencies of occurrence of each of said first and second set of target antibody cDNA sequences; identifying candidate antibody cDNA sequences that have a statistically significantly higher frequency of occurrence in said second set of target antibody cDNA sequences compared to a frequency of occurrence of said first set of target antibody cDNA sequences; selecting said candidate antibody cDNA sequences for generating monoclonal antibodies; and expressing said candidate antibody cDNA sequences to produce a plurality of candidate monoclonal antibodies.