Dr. Paul Engeroff (University of Bern) shows how a multiplex Fc receptor panel on focal molography maps where therapeutic anti-IgE antibodies and their immune complexes bind, revealing differences between omalizumab and ligalizumab that single-receptor assays miss.
About the Talk
Recorded at the 3rd focal Molography User Meeting on September 9, 2026, in Adliswil, Switzerland. In this 32-minute talk, Paul Engeroff introduces the immunology of IgE-mediated allergy, explains why immune complexes formed by therapeutic anti-IgE antibodies can engage receptors beyond the IgE receptor, and shows how a single multiplex assay measures this whole receptor landscape at once.
What the recording covers
- Why anti-IgE therapy needs a wider view. Omalizumab and the higher-affinity ligalizumab are human IgG antibodies, so besides blocking the IgE receptor (FcεRI) their complexes can also engage Fc gamma receptors on monocytes, neutrophils and other cells that classical allergy assays never look at.
- One multiplex Fc receptor panel. All human Fc gamma receptors and both IgE receptors (FcεRI and CD23) on a single sensor chip, read out label-free and in real time, for free antibodies, binary IgE-IgG complexes and ternary complexes with the cat allergen Fel d 1.
- Complexes change the binding profile. Forming an immune complex shifts binding from high- to low-affinity receptors and unlocks the low-affinity Fc gamma receptors, including the inhibitory FcγRIIb. Omalizumab and ligalizumab rank differently depending on whether the allergen is part of the complex.
- Neutralization depends on context. In the presence of the allergen, roughly 24 times more ligalizumab than omalizumab was needed to neutralize IgE binding to FcεRI, although ligalizumab has the higher affinity for free IgE.
About the Speaker
Dr. Paul Engeroff is an immunologist at the University of Bern whose research focuses on allergic diseases, IgE receptors and immune complexes. The work presented was carried out in close collaboration with the lino Biotech team.
Talk held at the 3rd focal Molography User Meeting, Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Adliswil, Switzerland (presented remotely from Bern).
