A member of a specific binding pair (sbp) is identified by expressing DNA
encoding a genetically diverse population of such sbp members in
recombinant host cells in which the sbp members are displayed in
functional form at the surface of a secreted recombinant genetic display
package (rgdp) containing DNA encoding the sbp member or a polypeptide
component thereof, by virtue of the sbp member or a polypeptide component
thereof being expressed as a fusion with a capsid component of the rgdp.
The displayed sbps may be selected by affinity with a complementary sbp
member, and the DNA recovered from selected rgdps for expression of the
selected sbp members. A phagemid may be used as an expression vector,
with said capsid fusion helping to package the phagemid DNA.