Monoclonal antibodies

• 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 interact with bacteria?

  They bind 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 rapidly dividing hybridoma cells
• What is the purpose of injecting an animal with an antigen?

  To stimulate the production of specific B lymphocytes
• 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 them
• What happens when monoclonal antibodies are injected into a patient?

  They locate and bind to cancer cells
• What are the steps to produce monoclonal antibodies?

  1. Inject an animal with the antigen.
  2. The animal's immune system produces B lymphocytes.
  3. Fuse B lymphocytes with tumor cells to create hybridomas.
  4. Allow hybridomas to divide and produce antibodies.
  5. Collect and purify the monoclonal antibodies.
• What are the advantages of monoclonal antibodies?

  • Specific binding to target antigens
  • Ability to attach drugs or markers
  • Potential for targeted therapy in diseases
• What are the limitations of monoclonal antibodies?

  • High production costs
  • Potential for immune reactions
  • Limited effectiveness against some diseases