Antibodies

• Plasma cells

  Secrete antibodies specific to the antigen - monoclonal antibodies
• Antibody

  • Has two binding sites
  • Can bind to two pathogens at the same time
  • Pathogens can become clumped together = agglutination
• Phagocytosis

  1. Phagocytes bind to the antibodies

  2. Can phagocytose many pathogens at once
• Monoclonal antibodies

  When a single type of antibody can be isolated and cloned
• Monoclonal antibodies


  • Have a number of useful functions in science and medicine
• Targeting medication to specific cell types

  1. Attach a therapeutic drug to an antibody

  2. Monoclonal antibodies can be used to target specific substances and specific cells

  3. Monoclonal antibodies that are specific to antigens on cancer cells are produced

  4. These antibodies are given to a patient and attach themselves to receptors on their cancer cells

  5. They block the chemical signals that stimulate their uncontrolled growth
• Example of monoclonal antibody therapy

  • Herceptin
• Advantages of monoclonal antibody therapy

  • Fewer side effects than other forms of therapy
  • Antibodies are highly specific and not toxic
• Indirect monoclonal antibody therapy

  1. Involves attaching a radioactive or cytotoxic drug to the monoclonal antibody

  2. When the antibody attaches to the cancer cell, it kills them
• Monoclonal antibodies used for medical diagnosis

  • Produce rapid results
  • Used for diagnosis of influenza, hepatitis and chlamydia infections
• Use of monoclonal antibodies raises some ethical issues
• Production of these antibodies involve use of mice
• There are specific guidelines to minimise suffering, however, some may still disagree with this method
• There have been some deaths associated with the usage of monoclonal antibodies
• Patients must have full knowledge of risks and benefits of these drugs before giving permission for them to be used
• Testing for safety of new drugs presents dangers