Topic 2- Antibodies in medicine Flashcards
What are monoclonal antibodies?
-Antibodies produced from a single group of genetically identical B cells (plasma cells)
-All identical in structure
Why are antibodies so specific?
-They have a unique tertiary structure, only an antigen with a unique complementary shape can fit into
Can you make monoclonal antibodies bind/ target to anything? What is this useful for?
-Yes
-Treating illnesses and medical diagnosises
What is the purpose of an ELISA test?
-To see if a patient has antibodies to a certain antigen
How are ELISA tests used in medical diagnosis?
-Pathogenic infections (such as HIV)
-Allergys
How do Elisa tests work?
-Antibody is used which has an enzyme attached to it
-Enzyme reacts with a substrate
-To produce a coloured product
-Causes the solution in the reaction vessel to change colour
What does a colour change signal?
-The antigen or antibody of interest is present
How does the antigen/antibody quantity work out in some lists?
-The intensity of the colour chnage
What does a direct Elisa use?
-A single antibody that is complementary to the antigen your testing for
Explain the process of a direct Elisa
-Antigens from a patient sample are bound to the inside of a well in a well plate
-Detection antibody with an attached enzyme that is complementary to the antigen of interest is added
-If antigen is present it will be imbilised on the surface of the well and detection antibody will bind to it
-Well is then washed out to remove any unbound antibody
-Substrate solution is addeded
-If detection antibody is present, the enzyme raeacts with the substrate to give a clour change
What’s the difference between an indirect Elisa and a direct Elisa?
-Indirect Elisa uses a secondary antibody (two different antibodies)
What are the ethical issues surrounding monoclonal antibodies?
-Animal rights issues
-Animals are used to produce the cells from which these antibodies are produced from
