Patent ID: 7074557

Claim:
A method of obtaining a specific binding pair (sbp) member that binds a complementary sbp member of interest, the method comprising: (a) providing mRNA molecules, each mRNA molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a specific binding pair member and lacking an in-frame stop codon; (b) incubating the mRNA molecules under conditions for ribosome translation of the mRNA molecules to produce encoded specific binding pair member, whereby complexes, each comprising ribosome, mRNA and encoded specific binding pair member displayed on the ribosome are formed; (c) bringing the complexes into contact with the complementary sbp member of interest, and selecting one or more complexes displaying specific binding pair member able to bind the complementary sbp member of interest under the conditions of the selection; wherein the mRNA molecules are incubated with prokaryotic ribosomes in a prokaryotic ribosome display system or are incubated with eukaryotic ribosomes in a eukaryotic ribosome display system; the method being characterised in that the mRNA molecules further comprise a sequence for encapsidation of the mRNA molecules in a viral coat, and the method comprises providing viral coat protein that recognises the sequence for encapsidation, thereby encapsidating mRNA comprised within complexes of mRNAs, ribosomes and displayed specific binding members in the viral coat protein co-translationally.