Monoclonal Antibodies

• How are monoclonal antibodies made?

  Single clone of b-lymphocyte
• What do antibodies recognise?

  Antigens
• Name of section of the antibody that recognises antigens

  Antigen binding site
• How are monoclonal antibodies made?

  By combing a mouse lymphocyte with a tumour cells which can then produce a large quantity of the one specific type of antibody
• Hybridoma cell 


  Combination of lymphocyte + tumour cell
• Why are hybridoma cells created?

  Has the ability to create the required antibody and divide rapidly
• when one hybridoma cell is made what is then done with it?

  Cloned to create many identical cells
• 4 uses of monoclonal antibodies:

  Pregnancy tests

  Measurement of chemical levels in the blood

  Treatment of diseases like cancer

  Identifying molecules in cells/tissues binding with fluorescent dyes
• How can antibodies be used to treat conditions such as cancer?

  Bind radioactive/toxic substances that are able to stop cells growing and dividing. The antibody will bind specifically to the cancer cells and deliver the substances without harming the other body cells.
• Why are monoclonal antibodies not widely used yet?

  Creates more side effects than expected