Altering an Antibody's Affinity for an Antigen by Modifying Carbohydrate Content
A carbohydrate recognition site may be introduced into the variable region of the antibody under conditions such that a carbohydrate binds to the recognition site. Alternatively, a carbohydrate recognition site occurring naturally in the constant region of the antibody may be deleted. Modified human/monoclonal antibodies, nucleic acids encoding such modified antibodies, therapeutic agents comprising the modified antibodies, diagnostic kits incorporating the modified antibodies and the use of such modified antibodies to detect and purify substances in samples have been described.