Lesson 8: Monochlonal antibodies

Question 1

How do we produce monochlonal antibodies?

Answer 1

1.) Inject mouse with antigen, stimulate the lymphocytes to make a particular antibody.
2.) Lymphocytes are combined with a tumour cell to form a hybridoma cell.
3.) Hybridoma cell is cloned to produce identical cells that all produce the same antibody.
4.) A large amount of antibodies can be collected and purified.

Question 2

What type of white blood cell produced antibodies?

Answer 2

• Lymphocytes

Question 3

Why do you fuse the lymphocyte with a tumour cell?

Answer 3

• Tumour cells can divide.
• Lymphocytes can make the antibody.
• Hybridoma cell can do both!!

Question 4

What is the last step of producing monochlonal antibodies?

Answer 4

• The large amount of antibody can be collected and purified.

Question 5

What are the 3 main facts about monochlonal antibodies?

Answer 5

1.) Produced from a single clone of hybridoma cells.
2.) Monochlonal antibodies are specific to one binding site on one protein antigen.
3.) This means monochlonal antibodies are able to target a specific chemical/ specific cells in the body.

Question 6

Describe the ways in which monochlonal antibodies can be used.

Answer 6

1.) For diagnosis ie. pregnancy tests.
2.) Used in labs to measure chemicals in the blood.
3.) To locate/ identify specific molecules in a cell/ tissue.
4.) To treat diseases ie. cancer

Question 7

What are monochlonal antibodies detecting when they are used in pregnancy tests?

Answer 7

• Monochlonal antibodies detect a specific hormone.

Question 8

What sort of chemicals in the blood could monochlonal antibodies be detecting?

Answer 8

• Hormones
• “Other chemicals”
• Pathogens

Question 9

How do monochlonal antibodies detect a specific molecule in a cell/ tissue?

Answer 9

• Monochlonal antibody is attached to a dye.
• Antibody binds to molecule and shows the dye onto a screen.

Question 10

How can monochlonal antibodies be used to treat cancer?

Answer 10

• Monochlonal antibody can be bound to a radioactive substance, a toxic drug or a chemical which stops cells growing and dividing.

Question 11

What is the advantage of using monochlonal antibodies to treat cancer?

Answer 11

• Antibodies are specific to cancer cells’ antigens.
• So… by using them, they will deliver the substance to the cancer cells without harming other cells in the body.

Question 12

What is the issue with monochlonal antibodies?

Answer 12

• They have much more side- effects than what was initially expected.
• They are not widely used because of this but they may be in the future.