Monoclonal antibodies

• monoclonal antibodies

  identical antibodies produced from the fusion of mouse spleen cells and myeloma cells
• production of monoclonal antibodies

  1.) mouse injected with specific pathogen

  2.) B lymphocytes produce antibodies

  3.) myeloma cells divide (cant make antibodies)

  4.) B-cells combine with tumour cells

  5.) hybridoma cells formed and screened for production of desired antibody

  6.) hybridoma cells copy themselves

  7.) monoclonal antibodies formed

  8.) antibodies are harvested or used for a range of purposes
• explain how a pregnancy test works to show a positive result

  • urine travels up reaction zone
  • HCG hormones bind to the mobile antibodies in reaction zone
  • HCG will move up the strip and bind to immobile antibodies in results window
  • any antibodies not binded to HCG will bind to immobile antibodies in control window
  • blue dye will appear in results window and control window
• uses of monoclonal antibodies

  • pregnancy tests
  • diagnosis of disease
  • measuring and monitoring
  • research
  • treating diseases