B6 Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are Monoclonal Antibodies?

Answer 1

They are identical clones produced from a single B-lymphocyte cell
- proteins produced to target particular cells

Question 2

What is a B-lymphocyte cell?

Answer 2

A type of white blood cell

Question 3

What are antibodies produced from?

Answer 3

B-lymphocyte cells

Question 4

Are antibodies identical?

Answer 4

yes

Question 5

Why do scientists create Hybridomas?

Answer 5

As lymphocyte cells produce antibodies, but do not divide easily. And Tumour cells do not produce antibodies but divide lots, so can be grown easily.

Question 6

How many antigens will a type of antibodies target?

Answer 6

1 specific type.

Question 7

What is a Hybridoma?

Answer 7

The fusion of an animal (mouse for testing stage) B-lymphocyte and a tumour cell.

Question 8

What are the stages of creating monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 8

1. a mouse is injected with a chosen antigen, the B-lymphocyte cell is then taken from the mouse
2. fast-dividing tumour cells are grown in a lab.
3. Fusion of the two cells creates a Hybridoma
4. These then divide quickly into clones, which produce monoclonal antibodies

Question 9

How are monoclonal antibodies created from a hybridoma?

Answer 9

Hybridoma cells divide quickly, becoming lots of identical cells. These cells then produce the same antibodies (monoclonal antibodies)

Question 10

What are advantages of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 10

• they can bind to only one specific molecule: can target a specific cell or chemical- cancer treatment: only attacks the specific cancer cells, avoids harming other cells, hypothetically cause less side-effects

Question 11

How are monoclonal antibodies used in pregnancy tests?

Answer 11

1. The part the woman urinates on has antibodies specific to HCG, with blue beads attached.
2. The urine picks up these antibodies and takes them to the test strip
3. The test strip has more antibodies specific to the hormone, that are in a line stuck down
4. If the woman is pregnant the hormone binds to the antibodies on the blue beads, then moves up the stick and binds to the antibodies on the test strip, creating a blue line.
5. If the woman is not pregnant the urine moves up the stick along with the blue beads, but doesnt bind to the antibodies on the blue beads or the test strip, so no line is created.

Question 12

What hormone do pregnancy tests detect from the urine of women?

Answer 12

HCG

Question 13

What happens on a pregnancy test that is positive?

Answer 13

If the woman is pregnant the hormone binds to the antibodies on the blue beads, then moves up the stick and binds to the antibodies on the test strip, creating a blue line.

Question 14

What happens on a pregnancy test that is negative?

Answer 14

If the woman is not pregnant the urine moves up the stick along with the blue beads, but doesnt bind to the antibodies on the blue beads or the test strip, so no line is created.

Question 15

How can monoclonal antibodies be used to treat diseases?i.e tumours, cancers.

Answer 15

1. Cancer cells have tumour markers that aren’t found in normal body cells
2. Monoclonal antibodies can be made in the lab which will bind to these tumour markers
3. An anti-cancer drug can be attached to the monoclonal antibodies
4. The treatment is given to the patient through a drip
5. The antibodies target specific cells, only binding to tumour markers, avoiding killing any normal body cells

Question 16

What are tumour markers?

Answer 16

Antigens on cancer cells that aren’t found in normal human body cells

Question 17

What are uses for monoclonal antibodies

Answer 17

Pregnancy tests
Diagnosis of disease
Binding to hormones and chemicals in the blood to measure their levels
Test blood samples in labs for certain pathogens
Locate specific molecules on a cell or in a tissue
Treating disease
Research

Question 18

How can monoclonal antibodies locate specific molecules in cells or in a tissue?

Answer 18

1. Specific monoclonal antibodies to the molecule are made
2. The antibodies are then bound to a fluorescent dye
3. If molecules are present, the monoclonal antibodies will attach to them, detectable due to the dye

Question 19

What are some disadvantages to monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 19

• cause more side-effects than originally expected: fever, vomiting, low blood pressure- therefore not as widely used as scientists had thought.

Question 20

What are antigens?

Answer 20

protein molecules often found on the surface of cells

Question 21

How can monoclonal antibodies be used in the treatment of disease/cancer?

Answer 21

• Trigger immune system to recognise, attack and destroy cancer cells
• Block receptors on the surface of cancer cells to stop the cells growing and dividing
• Used to carry toxic drugs or radioactive substances for radiation therapy, chemicals that stop cells growing or dividing to attack cancer cells directly

Question 22

What are advantages of using monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 22

• only bind to specific diseased or damages cells that need treatment, leaving healthy cells
• could be used to treat a wide range of conditions