Monoclonal Antibodies #40

• What are monoclonal antibodies derived from?

  A single clone of cells
• How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

  By cloning a single cell to produce antibodies
• What type of cells produce antibodies?

  B lymphocytes or B cells
• What is the role of antibodies in the immune system?

  To help fight disease by binding to antigens
• What are antigens?

  Foreign materials that antibodies bind to
• How do antibodies recognize bacteria?

  By binding to specific antigens on bacteria
• What is a hybridoma?

  A fused cell that produces antibodies and divides rapidly
• Why are tumor cells combined with B lymphocytes?

  To create cells that divide rapidly and produce antibodies
• What is the purpose of injecting an animal with an antigen?

  To stimulate an immune response and produce B cells
• What can monoclonal antibodies be designed to bind to?

  Specific proteins, cells, pathogens, or chemicals
• How can monoclonal antibodies be used in cancer treatment?

  By attaching drugs or radioactive material to target cancer cells
• What are the steps to produce monoclonal antibodies?

  1. Inject an animal with the desired antigen.
  2. The animal's immune system produces specific B cells.
  3. Isolate the B cells and fuse them with tumor cells.
  4. The resulting hybridoma cells divide rapidly and produce antibodies.
  5. Collect and purify the monoclonal antibodies.
• What shape do antibodies typically have?

  Y shape
• What happens when antibodies bind to antigens?

  They help neutralize or destroy the foreign material
• Why is it beneficial to have an "army" of identical hybridoma cells?

  It ensures a consistent supply of specific antibodies
• What is the main advantage of monoclonal antibodies?

  They bind to one specific target
• What can be attached to monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic purposes?

  Drugs, fluorescent proteins, or radioactive material
• How do monoclonal antibodies locate cancer cells?

  By binding to specific antigens on cancer cells
• What type of animal is commonly used to produce monoclonal antibodies?

  Mouse
• What is the significance of the immune response generated in the animal?

  It produces B cells specific to the injected antigen
• How does the process of creating monoclonal antibodies ensure specificity?

  By selecting B cells that target a specific antigen