Antibodies - Production Flashcards
How are antibodies produced using animals?
3
The animal is injected with purified antigen
The animal produces antibodies to the antigen
One of two types of antibodies are harvested through serum or plasma
What animals are often used in the production of antibodies?
(2)
Rabbits
Mice
What are rabbits/mice injected with during the production of antibodies?
They are injected with the purified antigen
What is produced by the mice/rabbits in response to the injected purified antigen?
The animal produces antibodies to the antigen
What two types of antibodies can be harvested from rabbits/mice.
Polyclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies
What needs to be harvested from a rabbit/mouse to collect polyclonal antibodies?
Serum
What needs to be harvested from a rabbit/mouse to collect monoclonal antibodies?
Antibody-producing cell from spleen of the animal
Describe the process of harvesting monoclonal antibodies.
3
An antibody-producing cell is harvested from the spleen of the animal
White blood cells are diluted to one cell per well
This one cell is then fused with tumour cells and grow in cell culture (hybridoma technology)
What is fusing a cell with a tumour cell often called?
Hybridoma technology
What type of antibody is used more often then the other?
Monoclonal antibodies are used more often then polyclonal antibodies
Why are monoclonal antibodies used more often then the polyclonal antibodies?
(2)
The antibody-producing cell harvested from the spleen will grow forever, one can make as much of this cell as is needed
Serum must be harvested from the animal every time polyclonal antibodies are needed
What animal is monoclonal antibodies harvested from?
From mice
What animal is polyclonal antibodies harvested from?
Rabbits
