Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 1

Single pure type of antibody produced by a single clone of plasma cells

Question 2

How are antibodies to a specific protein made?

Answer 2

1. Purified protein is injected into animal
2. Antibodies produced and collected in blood of injected animal
3. Serum purified to remove non specific antibodies that don’t bind to specific protein

Question 3

What are the uses of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 3

• targeting specific cell types (targeted medication)
• pregnancy testing
• medical diagnosis (ELISA)

Question 4

What are the 2 types of targeted medication using monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 4

• direct monoclonal antibody therapy
• indirect monoclonal antibody therapy

Question 5

What is an example of direct monoclonal antibody therapy?

Answer 5

Herceptin as treatment of breast cancer

Question 6

What is an example of indirect monoclonal antibody therapy?

Answer 6

Magic bullet

Question 7

What are the steps of direct monoclonal antibody therapy?

Answer 7

• monoclonal antibody produced specific to antigens on cancerous cells
• antibodies given to patient
• antibodies attach to antigens on surface of cancer cells and prevent uncontrolled growth

Question 8

What are the steps of indirect monoclonal antibody therapy?

Answer 8

• cytotoxic drug is attached to monoclonal antibodies
• antibodies given to patient
• when antibodies attach to antigens on cancer cells it kills them

Question 9

What are cytotoxic drugs?

Answer 9

Drug that kills cells

Question 10

What is overall role of direct therapy?

Answer 10

Blocks chemical that stimulates uncontrolled mitosis

Question 11

What are advantages of direct therapy?

Answer 11

• highly specific
• non toxic

Question 12

What is the overall role of the indirect therapy?

Answer 12

Drug kills cancer cells

Question 13

What are the advantages of indirect therapy?

Answer 13

• smaller drug doses target specific sites (cheaper)
• less side effects from drug

Question 14

Describe how pregnancy test/lateral flow test works

Answer 14

1. At reaction site, reaction between hcG hormone and monoclonal antibody occurs
2. At test site, hcG antibody complex gets trapped in second fixed antibody and causes blue line as dye is attached to antibodies
3. At control site, if no hcG is present then it’s not fixed and original antibodies swept to control and bonds with different monoclonal antibodies

Question 15

What is the importance of the control site?

Answer 15

Prevents false negatives

Question 16

Describe the steps of the ELISA test

Answer 16

1. Antigens from sample are attached to the surface of well, time is given to adhere to plate
2. Wash to remove unbound antigens
3. Apply specific antibody to surface so it bind with antigen
4. Wash to remove unbound antibodies
5. Add another antibody which is linked to enzyme
6. Wash to remove unbound antibodies linked to enzyme
7. Add substrate so enzyme substrate complex forms and causes colour change to be detected by spectrometer

Question 17

What does stronger colour change mean in ELISA test?

Answer 17

Higher concentration of antigen/antibody

Question 18

What is the ELISA test used for?

Answer 18

• detecting HIV and pathogens of diseases including tuberculosis and hepatitis
• measuring quantity of antigen
• drug and allergen tests

Question 19

Describe the ethical risks of monoclonal antibodies

Answer 19

• production includes use of mice
• risks
• some deaths with use in treatment of multiple sclerosis
• testing for safety of drugs presents certain dangers