This project is a bibliographic study focused on analyzing the mechanisms of action (MOA) of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies using IMGT/mAb-DB as the main reference resource. Monoclonal antibodies exert their effects through various mechanisms, including antigen neutralization, Fc-mediated effector functions such as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), and complement activation. Understanding how these mechanisms operate, and how they differ across therapeutic contexts, is central to this work.
Using curated data from IMGT/mAb-DB, the project will explore how engineered Fc regions, amino acid variations, and antibody design influence therapeutic outcomes. A group of 2-3 students will be recruited to work collaboratively, each investigating published literature and integrating findings with annotated entries in IMGT/mAb-DB to better understand how molecular features translate into functional mechanisms.
Students may choose a clinical area of interest—such as oncology, autoimmune diseases, or infectious diseases—to guide their bibliographic research and deepen their understanding of antibody action in a specific therapeutic setting. The project provides insight into antibody mechanisms, scientific literature analysis, and the use of a specialized database for therapeutic antibody research.

References for the scientific material
Golfinopoulou R, Giudicelli V, Manso T, Kossida S. Delving into Molecular Pathways: Analyzing the Mechanisms of Action of Monoclonal Antibodies Integrated in IMGT/mAb-DB for Myasthenia Gravis. Vaccines (Basel). 2023 Nov 26;11(12):1756. doi: 10.3390/vaccines11121756. PMID: 38140161.
Manso T, Kushwaha A, Abdollahi N, Duroux P, Giudicelli V, Kossida S. Mechanisms of action of monoclonal antibodies in oncology integrated in IMGT/mAb-DB. Front Immunol. 2023 May 5;14:1129323. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1129323. PMID: 37215135.