Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 1

Antibodies that are identical because they are produced by one type of B cell that are replicated by mitosis to form a clone of plasma cells.

Question 2

How are monoclonal antibodies used in cancer treatment?

Answer 2

• Anti-cancer drugs are attached to monoclonal antibodies that are complementary to the antigens found in cancer cell surface membranes.
• The antibody binds to form an antigen/antibody complex.
• The attached drug kills the cancer cell.

This treatment is SPECIFIC as the antibody only targets the antigens on cancer cells.

Question 3

How is the ELISA test used to detect the presence of an antigen?

Answer 3

1. Add sample
2. Wash
3. Add antibody
4. Wash
5. Add 2nd antibody
6. Wash
7. Colour change = substrate present

Eg. Pregnancy test, Covid test

Question 4

How is the ELISA test used to identify the presence of HIV antibodies?

Answer 4

1. Add HIV antigen to well
2. Wash
3. Add sample to well (patients blood plasma)
4. Wash
5. Add monoclonal antibody with enzyme attached to well
6. Wash
7. Add substrate, colour will change = HIV is present

Question 5

What are the ethical issues associated with the use of monoclonal antibodies?

Answer 5

• Involve deliberately inducing cancer in mice
• Testing for the safety of new drugs presents certain risks
• Successful results in mice does not mean the same results will be produced in humans;
  Both mammals but differences in physiology and genetics