An increasing number of peptides with specific binding affinity to various protein and even non-protein targets are being discovered from phage display libraries. The power of this method lies in its ability to efficiently and rapidly identify ligands with a desired target property from a large population of phage clones displaying diverse surface peptides. However, the search for the needle in the haystack does not always end successfully. False positive results may appear. Thus instead of specific binders phage with no actual affinity toward the target are recovered due to their propagation advantages or binding to other components of the screening system, such as the solid phase, capturing reagents, contaminants in the target sample or blocking agents, rather than the target. Biopanning experiments on different targets performed in our laboratory revealed some previously identified and many new target-unrelated peptide sequences, which have already been frequently described and published, but not yet recognized as target-unrelated. Distinguishing true binders from false positives is an important step toward phage display selections of greater integrity. This article thoroughly reviews and discusses already identified and new target-unrelated peptides and suggests strategies to avoid their isolation.

We have optimized the display of the B domain of staphylococcal protein A on the surface of Lactococcus lactis. The maximum binding capacity was estimated at 0.146 μg of antibody per 10 ⁸ cells and was sustained at 86% after treatment with simulated gastric juice. A tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-binding affibody was also displayed and bound TNF-α, which could be useful in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.