Monoclonal Antibodies Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is a monoclonal antibody?
Antibody produced from cloned B lymphocytes so they have the same tertiary structure.
Explain how monoclonal antibodies can be used in medical treatments.
Monoclonal antibody has a specific tertiary structure. This is complementary to an antigen found only on a specific cell type. Therapeutic drug attached to antibody. Antibody binds to specific cell forming antigen-antibody complex delivering drug.
What can monoclonal antibodies be designed to do other than deliver drugs?
Block antigens/receptors on cells.
Explain the use of antibodies in the ELISA test to detect antigens.
Attach specific monoclonal antibodies to well. Add sample with potential antigens then wash well. Add complementary monoclonal antibodies with enzymes attached - bind to antigens if present. Wash well - remove unbound antibodies. Add substrate - enzymes create products that cause a colour change.
Suggest the purpose of a control well in the ELISA test.
Compare to test to show only enzyme causes colour change.
Compare to test to show all unbound antibodies have been washed away.
Suggest why failure to thoroughly wash the well can result in a false positive in the ELISA test.
Antibody with enzyme remains so substrate converted into colour product.
Discuss some general ethical issues associated with the use of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
Pre clinical testing on animals - mistreatment. But animals aren’t killed and helps produce new drugs to reduce human suffering. Clinical trials on humans - potential harm and side effects.
4 things to question about the method of the ELISA test.
Question if the trial was double blind.
Question how long the duration of the study was to show long term effects.
Question if placebo or control groups were used.
Question the sample size and if it was representative.
