3.2 Monoclonal Antibodies Flashcards
Completed | T3 Infection and Response | physicsandmathstutor
What are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)?
Triple only
Antibodies that are clones from one parent cell, and are specific to one type of antigen.
What are the roles of lymphocytes?
Triple only
To produce antibodies against anything that the body detects as foreign (antigens).
How are monoclonal antibodies are produced? (5)
Triple only
- Specific antigen injected into an animal (e.g. mouse).
- B-lymphocytes producing complementary antibodies extracted.
- B-lymphocytes fuse with myeloma cells to form hybridoma cells - these cells can divide and produce antibody.
- Hybridoma cells cultured.
- Monoclonal antibodies collected and purified.
What are the uses of monoclonal antibodies?
Triple only
- Detection of pathogens
- Location of cancer cells and blood clots
- Treatment of cancer
- Used in pregnancy test kits
What are myeloma cells?
Triple only
Type of tumour cell
What is the advantage of using monoclonal antibodies to test for pathogens?
Triple only
- Specific to one particular antigen
- Very accurate
- Quick results
How can monoclonal antibodies be used to diagnose cancer? (4)
Triple only
- mAbs tagged to a radioactive substance.
- mAbs injected into the patient’s bloodstream.
- mAbs attaches to the cancer cells.
- Emitted radiation is detected using a specialised scanner enabling doctors to determine the location of cancer cells.
How can monoclonal antibodies be used to target drugs to cancer cells? (4)
Triple only
- mAbs attached to an anti-cancer drug.
- mAbs injected into the patient’s bloodstream.
- mAbs attach to the cancer cells.
- Anti-cancer drug destroys or prevents growth of cancer cells.
Why are cancer treatments that use monoclonal antibodies favoured over traditional treatments? (2)
Triple only
- Radiotherapy and chemotherapy target rapidly dividing cells so healthy cells (e.g. hair follicle cells, bone marrow cells) are damaged as a consequence, producing unpleasant side effects.
- mAbs only target cancer cells without harming normal cells.
What do pregnancy kits test for?
Triple only
hCG in urine
What does a pregnancy test consist of?
Triple only
A stick containing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to hCG:
- mAbs attached to a blue bead (free to move)
- mAbs fixed to the test stick
Describe what happens to the test stick if a woman is pregnant
Triple only
- hCG in urine binds to mAbs attached to a blue bead.
- mAbs with hCG diffuse up dipstick.
- mAbs fixed to the stick bind to hCG.
- Blue line forms.
What happens to the test stick if the pathogen is not present?
Triple only
No hCG in urine so a blue line is not formed.
Why can monoclonal antibodies be used to target cancer cells? (2)
Triple only
- Cancer cells have specific antigens called ‘tumour markers’ on their membranes.
- mAbs are specific to one type of antigen so can be targeted to ‘tumour markers’ without damaging other cells.
How can monoclonal antibodies be used to locate blood clots?
Triple only
- mAbs tagged to a radioactive substance.
- mAbs target and bind to specific proteins in blood clots.
- Radiation emitted by mAbs is detected, enabling the
location of blood clots to be identified.
