Monoclonal Antibodies Flashcards
What is meant by monoclonal antibodies? MS
1) Monoclonal antibodies have the same TERTIARY STRUCTURE and are all specific to only ONE antigen.
2) They come from the same CLONE of plasma cells.
What is meant by an antibody?
A protein that is produced by B plasma cells with receptors complementary to a specific antigens.
Explain the uses of monoclonal antibodies
1) Treatment of diseases (direct/indirect therapies) =
> MA can carry drugs bound to antibody to specific cells/antigens.
> MA themselves can bind to specific cells/antigens and block them.
2) Medical diagnosis =
> MA will bind to a specific
3) Cancer Treatments
> Triggering an Immune Response
> Preventing cancer cells from dividing
> Delivering drugs
How are monoclonal antibodies used in cancer treatments?
1) Triggering an Immune Response =
> (e.g. MabCampath which is used to treat leukaemia)
2) Preventing cancer cells from dividing
> (e.g. Herceptin which is used to treat breast cancer)
3) Delivering drugs
> (e.g. Zevalin which is used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma)
What is an ELISA test? What does it test for?
A medical diagnostic test that uses monoclonal antibodies
Tests for…
> Pathogenic infections
> Allergies
How does an ELISA test work?
1) Uses an antibody with an enzyme attached to it.
2) The enzyme can react with a substrate to produce a coloured product - the solution changes colour.
3) The colour change indicates whether the antigen/antibody of interest is present.
What is an example of an ELISA test?
The PSA test for prostate cancer.
PSA = Prostate-specific antigen
How can you get a false positive PSA test?
If there is enzyme present but the antigen/protein is not present from not washing it properly.
Why is it important to wash the plate the second time?
Otherwise the enzyme can react with the substrate (No antigen). causing a false positive.
What hormone do pregnant women produce that can be detected?
HCG
What are the ethical issues involved with creating monoclonal antibodies?
Requires mice to produce the antibodies and tumour cells…
…which is debated and justified to allow the better treatment of cancers in humans and detect disease.
