Benefits and limitations of monoclonal antibodies

• Monoclonal antibodies are identical copies of one type of antibody.
• Monoclonal antibodies can be used for many purposes, including testing for pregnancy by detecting HCG hormones in urine, testing for diseases such as herpes and chlamydia, and HIV.
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a disease which damages cells in the immune system and can lead to the development of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
• Monoclonal antibodies can be used to treat conditions like cancer by carrying drugs directly to the tumour cells, and helping the immune system.
• The body's defence system against entry of any foreign body, including pathogens and agents such as pollen grains, is known as the immune system.
• The role of the immune system is to prevent disease.
• Monoclonal antibodies can be produced quickly despite the fact that it can be time consuming when they are made for the first time.
• The human body is a complex system and has many different functions, making it difficult to produce monoclonal antibodies.
• In 2006, a drug trial involving humans using monoclonal antibodies to treat conditions such as arthritis and leukaemia went wrong.
• Despite the individuals being given very low doses, it resulted in organ failure but was not fatal.
• Some people disagree with the use of animals to produce monoclonal antibodies.
• Monoclonal antibodies are not as widely used by doctors as originally thought due to these side effects.
• Scientists originally thought that monoclonal antibodies would be a 'magic bullet' and would be able to identify and treat many medical conditions.
• After it has produced antibodies, a small operation removes spleen cells, which then continue to make the antibodies.
• The monoclonal antibodies had been safely used in other animal trials before being used in human trials.
• Tests have revealed, however, that this is not the case.
• The interactions in the human body have resulted in unwanted side effects.
• An ethical issue is one in which people disagree for religious or other moral reasons.
• Monoclonal antibodies are also very expensive to produce.
• This is an example of how careful we must be during drug development.
• The first step in making a monoclonal antibody is to inject a mouse with an antigen.