Immunology

Question 1

what are the therapeutic uses of monoclonal antibodies

Answer 1

prophylactic protein against microbial infection
anti-cancer therapy
removal of T-cells from bone marrow grafts
block cytokine activity

Question 2

what are the diagnostic uses of monoclonal antibodies

Answer 2

tissue type
blood group serology
immunoassays - hormones, antibodies, antigens
immunodiagnosis - infectious diseases, autoimmunity, allergy, malignancy

Question 3

explain the production of monoclonal antibodies

Answer 3

spleen cells producing the antibody and myeloma (immortal cells) lacking antibody secretion are combined
they fuse with the use of PEG
they are transferred to HAT medium and produce immortal hybridomas which proliferate
the desired hybridoma is selected if it makes the desired antigen

Question 4

what are fluorescent probes useful for

Answer 4

measuring multiple things in the same tube at the same time

Question 5

what are enzyme linked antibodies useful for

Answer 5

when the substrate is bound to the enzyme there is a colour change (ELISA, immune-enzyme staining)

Question 6

what are the benefits of antibodies in diagnostic testing

Answer 6

can be made with good specificity for anything

can be used to test presence of immunoglobulins (anti-antibody)