infection & response

Question 1

describe how monoclonal antibodies are produced

Answer 1

• inject specific antigen into mouse
• mouse produces lymphocytes, which produce antibodies specific to the antigen
• extract lymphocytes
• fuse lymphocytes with a tumour cell to create a HYBRIDOMA
• hybridoma CLONES itself many times to create many identical cells that produce antibodies
• antibodies collected and purified

Question 2

how can monoclonal antibodies prevent disease?

Answer 2

• specific to antigen
• attach to antigens
• so pathogen can’t bind to cell

Question 3

define vector

Answer 3

an organism that carries and transmits a pathogen without being infected itself

Question 4

explain how vaccination makes a person immune to a disease

Answer 4

• dead or inactive pathogen injected into the body
• white blood cells detect pathogens so stimulates to produce antibodies
• antibodies specific to antigen on the pathogen
• upon re-infection, memory cells will recognise antigen on pathogen
• so white blood cells rapidly produce more antibodies

Question 5

describe how mAbs can be used in treatment of cancer

Answer 5

• deliver drugs or radioactive substance directly to cell
• helps destroy cancer cells while minimising damage to normal cells

Question 6

monoclonal antibody

Answer 6

produced from a single clone of cells

Question 7

benefit of mAbs in cancer

Answer 7

• destroys cancer cells without destroying other healthy body cells