Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are
monoclonal
antibodies?

Answer 1

Identical antibodies produced from the
fusion of mouse spleen cells and
myeloma cells.

Question 2

What is a spleen?

Answer 2

An organ of the immune system, found in
the abdomen of most vertebrates, that
produces and destroys blood cells.

Question 3

What is myeloma?

Answer 3

A malignant tumour of white blood cells in
bone marrow. (white blood cells that have
turned cancerous which means they keep
on growing and dividing indefinitely)

Question 4

What do antibodies
do?

Answer 4

They bind to antigens of almost any
substance to allow for the substance to
be identified and then removed if needed.

Question 5

How are
monoclonal
antibodies
produced?

Answer 5

1. An antigen is injected into a mouse.
2. After a few days the mouse’s white
   blood cells produce antibodies.
3. Spleen cells are collected from the

mouse as they contain antibody-
producing white blood cells.

4. The spleen cells are fused with
   myeloma cells. This produces
   hybridoma cells.
5. The hybridoma cells are cloned in the
   lab in a culture medium.
6. The monoclonal antibodies produced
   by the hybridoma cells are collected
   and purified.

Question 6

Describe how
monoclonal
antibodies are used
in pregnancy tests.

Answer 6

The antibodies identify the hormone HGC
present in the woman’s urine.
The antibodies are attached to a strip of
paper onto which the woman urinates.
If HGC is present in the urine, it will bind to
the monoclonal antibodies and produce a
coloured substance.

Question 7

What is a diagnostic
test?

Answer 7

A medical procedure that tells a patient
whether they have a condition/infection.

Question 8

What other
diagnostic tests are
monoclonal
antibodies used
for?

Answer 8

Test for HIV
Test for hepatitis, herpes
Test for doping
Test for chlamydia, syphilis
Carry markers to see where cancer cells
are in the body.

Question 9

Give an example of
monoclonal
antibody use to
treat diseases.

Answer 9

They can be used to attack cancerous
cells: stop them from dividing, carry toxic
drugs or radiation to them.

Question 10

Why are
monoclonal
antibodies not
widely used to treat
diseases?

Answer 10

Because they come from mouse cells, they
trigger an immune response in humans
causing unexpected side effects.
Difficult to make specific monoclonal
antibodies.