B6.5/6.6

• What are monoclonal antibodies?

  Clones of one type of antibody.
• Describe process of forming antibodies

  1. Inject mouse with the epitope of the antigen we want our antibodies to bind to
  2. Wait for the immune response and then separate the b-lymphocytes via the spleen
  3. Fuse the b-cells with a form of rapid dividing cancer cells (myeloma cells) with the help of polyethylene glycol.This creates hybridoma cells.
  4. Mixture of cells are cultured in conditions so that only the hybridoma can grow.
  5. 5.Specific hybridoma, that produce the desired antibody, are cultured.

  6. Monoclonal antibodies are collected and purified.
• The antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen and so are able to target a specific chemical or specific cells in the body.
• Where are the myeloma cells from?

  The animal is induced with cancer and myeloma cells are then extracted from it.