monoclonal antibodies

• Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of one type of antibody. Antibodies are proteins produced by a type of white blood called lymphocytes . Pathogens have proteins on their surface called antigens .
• first steps of producing are a mouse being injected with a chosen antigen then the mouses immune system responds by producing lymphotytes which then produce antibodies against that antigen
• monoclonal antibodies are used for pregnacy tests,treating diseases and identifying chemicals in the blood
• monoclonal antibodies in treatments can cause fevers,low blood pressure and vomiting when used to treat patients
• antibodies are produced by B-lymphocytes which are a type of white blood cell
• what are monoclonal antibodies?

  'Mono' means 'one' and 'clone' means 'identical copy'. Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of one type of antibody.
• what do monoclonal antibodies do?

  Antibodies are proteins produced by a type of white blood called lymphocytes. Pathogens have proteins on their surface called antigens. When a pathogen infects the body, the lymphocytes recognise these antigens as foreign and attack them by producing antibodies.
• how are monoclonal antibodies made?

  1. An antigen is injected into a mouse
  2. The mouse naturally produces lymphocytes, which produce antibodies specific to the antigen
  3. Spleen cells which produce the lymphocytes are removed during a small operation
  4. The spleen cells are fused with human cancerous white blood cells called myeloma cells to form hybridoma cells which divide indefinitely
  5. These hybridoma cells divide and produce millions of monoclonal antibodies specific to the original antigen
• how are antibodies used for pregnancy tests?

  The antibodies have been designed to bind with a hormone called HCG which is found only in the urine of pregnant women. mAbs are attached to the end of a pregnancy test stick onto which a woman urinates. If she is pregnant, HCG will be present in her urine and will bind to the monoclonal antibodies on the test stick. This will cause a change in colour or pattern which will indicate pregnancy. These specific monoclonal antibodies in the pregnancy test will only bind with HCG.
• how are antibodies used for cancer diagnosis and treatment?

  Cancerous cells have antigens. Monoclonal antibodies can be designed to bind specifically with these antigens. When injected into a person's body, the monoclonal antibodies will bind with these cancer cells and clump them together. This makes it easier to identify a cancerous tumour, which can then be treated or removed.
• what are other ways monoclonal antibodies are designed to treat cancer?

  • carrying drugs that have been attached to them, to the tumour
  • encouraging your immune system to attack the cancer cells directly
• what are some other ways monoclonal antibodies can be used?

  Monoclonal antibodies are also used in a similar way to identify and diagnose infections, such as HIV and AIDS, herpes and chlamydia.

  Some monoclonal antibodies have been attached to dyes that will glow fluorescent under UV light. This can make disease identification much easier.
• what are the benefits of monoclonal antibodies?

  • testing for pregnancy by detecting HCG hormones in urine
  • testing for diseases such herpes and chlamydia, and HIV which can lead to the development of AIDS
  • to treat conditions like cancer by carrying drugs directly to the tumour cells, and helping the immune system attack them
  • monoclonal antibodies can be produced quickly despite the fact that it can be time consuming when they are made for the first time
• what are the limitations to using monoclonal antibodies?

  The interactions in the human body has resulted in unwanted side effects. causing fevers ,chills ,low blood pressure and more .This means they are not as widely used by doctors as originally thought.

  Monoclonal antibodies are also very expensive to produce.
• ethical issues of monoclonal antibodies?

  The first step in making a monoclonal antibody is to inject a mouse with an antigen. Some people disagree with this use of animals to produce monoclonal antibodies