Lecture Notes: Monoclonal Antibodies
Introduction to Monoclonal Antibodies
- Definition: Antibodies produced from a single clone of cells, hence the term "monoclonal."
- Production Process: Cell cloning is utilized to produce many antibodies which are then isolated.
Antibodies and the Immune System
- Role of Antibodies:
- Produced by B lymphocytes (B cells), a type of white blood cell.
- Function to fight disease by binding to antigens on pathogens.
- Antigens: Foreign materials like molecules on bacteria cell walls that are recognized by antibodies.
- Binding Process:
- Antibodies bind to specific antigens on pathogens.
- This allows antibodies to target multiple bacteria of the same type having similar antigens.
Laboratory Production of Monoclonal Antibodies
- Challenges in Production:
- B lymphocytes do not divide rapidly.
- Solution:
- Fuse B lymphocytes with fast-dividing tumor cells to create hybridomas.
- Hybridomas maintain antibody production and rapid cell division.
- Hybridoma Culturing:
- Cultured in petri dishes to proliferate, producing large quantities of identical antibodies.
Selection of B Lymphocytes
- Animal Immunization:
- Inject an animal (e.g., mouse) with the target antigen.
- The animal’s immune system responds, producing B lymphocytes specific to the antigen.
- Isolation:
- Isolate B lymphocytes for fusion with tumor cells to form hybridomas.
Applications and Benefits
- Specific Binding:
- Monoclonal antibodies bind to a specific target (protein, cell, pathogen, or chemical).
- Versatility:
- Possible to attach drugs, fluorescent proteins, or radioactive materials to antibodies.
- Targeted treatment example: Attach drugs/radioactive material to antibodies specific to cancer cell antigens to locate and destroy cancer cells.
Conclusion
- Monoclonal antibodies offer precise targeting capabilities in medical treatments.
- Potential applications include diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.
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