Abstract: A method of selecting a genus of therapeutic antibodies includes selecting antibodies with the following criteria; a) do inhibit cell lysis under conditions wherein the alternative pathway is isolated from the classical pathway; and b) do not inhibit cell lysis under conditions wherein the classical pathway is isolated from the alternative pathway; and c) do not inhibit cell lysis under conditions wherein the classical pathway and alternative pathway are active; and d) do inhibit C3b produced exclusively by the alternative pathway.