Monoclonal antibodies Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are unlimited identical copies of the same antibody that are produced artificially. They were first made in 1975 by two immunologists, Cesar Milstein from Argentina and Georges Kohler from Germany, and although research is ongoing, they have already proved useful in many areas of medicine. They make up a high proportion of drugs and diagnostic tests for cancers to identify blood types. Antibodies are proteins the body uses to target alien cells such as germs. There are millions of kinds, each matching a different alien protein (or antigen), and they latch on to their specific antigen either to neutralize it or to identify it as a target for the body's immune cells. Paul Ehrlich coined the term "antibodies" in 1891, and went on to describe how they interact with antigens like lock and key. By the 1960s, scientists knew they are made by white blood cells called B-cells, or B-lymphocytes, each primed with its own antibody. When triggered by its matching antigen, a B-cell clones itself, producing multiple copies of plasma cells, which release floods of antibodies. As plasma cells produce more than one kind of antibody, the process is described as "polyclonal". Milstein and Kohler's breakthrough was to create limitless copies of identical "monoclonal" antibodies using cells made in the lab called hybridomas. These are artificial fusions of plasma cells and myeloma cells (abnormal plasma cells that cause cancer) primed to produce the desired antibody. Plasma cells are short-lived, whereas myeloma cells reproduce indefinitely. By fusing them, Milstein and Kohler created an endlessly multiplying source of their chosen antibody. Milstein's original intention was to find a way to make pure antibodies for research. But he and Kohler quickly realized that mAbs might also be a "magic bullet", offering tailor-made antibodies to target any disease. Although monoclonal antibodies have not yet proved to be a magic cure-all, they are finding new uses all the time. They can even be used to detect biological weapons. In pregnancy tests, mAbs detect the hormone HCG, and in tissue typing, they help prevent a donor organ from being rejected by blocking the immune response. They can identify blood clots and rogue cells and are used in cancer treatment to carry drugs or radiation to targeted cells. Monoclonal antibodies are also used to fight autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, and new mAb drugs are in the pipeline for malaria, influenza, and HIV. In 2020, scientists found several mÅbs that appear to neutralize the COVID-19 virus in cell cultures. What is the main advantage of hybridomas in the production of monoclonal antibodies?

Питання КРОК 1 (медицина) · тест з варіантами та поясненням · Medus

EN: What is the main advantage of hybridomas in the production of monoclonal antibodies?

Варіанти відповідей

1. They are short-lived
2. They are used in pregnancy tests
3. They cause cancer
4. They reproduce indefinitely
5. They contain only plasma cells

Answer options (EN)

1. They are short-lived
2. They are used in pregnancy tests
3. They cause cancer
4. They reproduce indefinitely
5. They contain only plasma cells

Правильна відповідь

They reproduce indefinitely

Пояснення

Гібридоми - гібриди B-лімфоцита з мієломною клітиною; вони зберігають здатність продукувати один тип антитіл (моноклональні) та необмежено діляться в культурі, що дозволяє отримувати великі кількості однакових антитіл. Короткочасні клітини чи тільки плазмоцити не дають такого стійкого виходу продукту.

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