Monoclonal Antibodies

Question 1

What are “monoclonal antibodies?”

Answer 1

• Antibodies with same tertiary structure, produced from identical B lymphocytes/ a single B lymphocyte.

(MS DEFINITION, LEARN!!)

Question 2

Give the different uses of monoclonal antibodies.

Answer 2

1.) Medical diagnosis
2.) Medical treatment

Question 3

How are monoclonal antibodies used in medical treatment? Give the example of cancer.

Answer 3

• Monoclonal antibodies are complementary to the antigens on the surface of cancer cells.
• The monoclonal antibodies have **therapteutic drugs ** attached to them.
• The therapeutic drug is released when the monoclonal antibody binds to the specific cancer antigen, killing the cancer cells directly.

Question 4

What is the benefit of attaching therapeutic drug to monoclonal antibody comp to antigen on cancer cell?

Answer 4

• Benefit: directly kills the cancer cells. This prevents harm to other healthy cells in body/ ie. prevents harmful side-effects that would come from other treatment e.g., chemo/ radiotherapy.

Question 5

What are the two different types of ELISA tests, what are they?

Answer 5

1.) Indirect: uses 2 different antibodies/ primary and secondary.
2.) Direct: single antibody with attachment to it (ie. an enzyme) that is comp to antigen.

Question 6

How can the indirect ELISA be used to test for specific diseases/ conditions? What are the steps?

Answer 6

1.) Add test sample from patient to base of beaker (or whatever utensil you want ie. a plate!!)
2.) Wash to remove any unbound test sample.
3.) Add antibody - comp to the antigen you are testing for in sample.
4.) Wash to remove any unbound antibody.
5.) Add second antibody- comp in shape to 1st antibody. 2nd antibody binds to 1st antibody.
6.) 2nd antibody has enzyme attached to it.
7.) Add colourless substrate to the beaker. The enzyme will convert the substrate to product (if 1st antibody binds to antigen) - causing a colour change.

() - extra info for clarification

Question 7

What can the ELISA test be used for?

Answer 7

• Pregnancy tests.
• Medical diagnosis (ie. testing for particular antigen from pathogen.)

Question 8

When indirect ELISA is used to test for specific diseases, what does the colour change show (after the substrate has been added), what does intensity of the colour change show?

Answer 8

• Colour change shows –> presence of antigen (ie. of specific pathogen) in test-sample.
• Intensity of colour shows –> quantity of antigen present.

() - extra info

Question 9

What is the main ethical issue associated with use of monoclonal antibodies to treat cancers/ diagnose disease?

Answer 9

• Use of animals ie. mice to make monoclonal antibodies.

Question 10

Exam Q

Give one example of using monoclonal antibodies in medical treatment.

Answer 10

• Carries drug/ medicine to specific cells.