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Monoclonal antibodies (biology only) (HT only)

3.2.1 Producing monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies

  • Produced from single clone of cells
  • Specific to one binding site on an antigen
  • Target specific chemical / cell in body

Production of monoclonal antibodies

  1. Vaccinate mouse to stimulate mouse lymphocytes to make a particular antibody
  2. Combine lymphocytes with a particular type of tumour cell to make hybridoma cell
  3. Hybridoma cell can both divide & make antibody
  4. Single hybridoma cell cloned to produce many identical cells that produce same antibody
  5. Large amount of antibody collected & purified

3.2.2 Uses of monoclonal antibodies

Pregnancy test

 
  • Pregnancy testing stick
  • HCG (hormone) found in women urine only when pregnant
  • If pregnant – HCG in urine binds to monoclonal antibodies – change in colour
Diagnosis of disease eg cancer

(Treat some disease)

 

 How?

  • Monoclonal antibody bind to radioactive substance, a toxic drug / chemical – stop cell grow & divide
  • Trigger immune system to attack cancer cell directly
  • Deliver substance to cancer cells without harming other cells in body
Measuring & monitoring Measure & monitor level of hormones & other chemicals in blood to detect pathogens / drugs
Research

 

 
  • Locate / identify specific molecules in cell / tissue

How?

  • Monoclonal antibody bind to fluorescent dye
  • If molecules present – antibodies bind to molecules

But

  • Create more side effects than expected eg fever
  • Not as widely used