| What are Monoclonal antibodies, Antibodies & Antigens? | 1) Monoclonal antibodies - are identical copies of one type of antibody
2) Antibodies - are proteins produced by a type of white blood called lymphocytes
3) Antigens - are proteins found on the surfaces of pathogens |
| How does the body Respond to Pathogens? | 1) Lymphocytes recognise these antigens as foreign and attack them by producing antibodies
2) Antibodies bind to specific antigens on pathogens and are merged tightly together - this makes them easier to identify and deal with
NOTE: Scientists discovered that we could make antibodies to bind to antigens on other substances, and not just those on pathogens |
| How are Monoclonal Antibodies Formed | 1) An antigen is injected into a mouse
2) The mouse naturally produces lymphocytes, which produce antibodies specific to the antigen
3) Spleen cells which produce the lymphocytes are removed during a small operation
4) The spleen cells are fused with human cancerous white blood cells called myeloma cells to form hybridoma cells which divide indefinitely
5) These hybridoma cells divide and produce millions of monoclonal antibodies specific to the original antigen |
| 3 Other Uses of Monoclonal Antibodies | PREGNANCY TESTS:
1) Monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a hormone called HCG (found only in the urine of pregnant women) are attached to the end of the stick which woman urinates on.
2) If pregnant, HCG will bind to the monoclonal antibodies on the test stick, and a change in colour or pattern on the stick will indicate pregnancy
CANCER IDENTIFICATION:
1) Cancerous cells have antigens. Monoclonal antibodies can be designed to bind specifically with these antigens
2) When injected into a person's body, the monoclonal antibodies will bind with these cancer cells and clump them together making it easier to identify a cancerous tumour. The MA's can: carry drugs that have been attached to them, to the tumour OR encourage your immune system to attack the cancer cells directly
OTHER DIAGNOSTIC USES:
Monoclonal antibodies are also used in a similar way to identify and diagnose infections, such as HIV and AIDS, herpes and chlamydia. Some monoclonal antibodies have been attached to dyes that will glow fluorescent under UV light. This can make disease identification much easier |
