Efficient generation in vitro, from human peripheral blood cells, of monoclonal Epstein-Barr virus transformants producing specific antibody to a variety of antigens without prior deliberate immunization.

This paper describes a simple protocol for the efficient generation of large numbers of human monoclonal antibody-producing cells. This system is based on initial limiting-dilution culture after Epstein-Barr virus exposure of highly enriched precursors selected from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Precursors can be enriched by using rosetting or panning approaches. Antibodies to erythrocytes, a mouse mammary carcinoma, DNA, and sperm antigens, produced without any deliberate immunization, are described. Large-scale human monoclonal antibody production may be facilitated by a combination of this protocol with a human cellular fusion system. For efficient precursor analysis and short-term (2 months or more) monoclonal antibody production, however, the system described here may be sufficient.