How are monoclonal antibodies produced?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Start by immunizing a mouse with an antigen to stimulate an immune response, leading to the production of B cells that produce antibodies specific to that antigen.
2. Harvest the spleen cells from the immunized mouse, which contain the B cells producing the desired antibodies.
3. Fuse these spleen cells with myeloma cells (cancerous B cells) to create hybridoma cells. This fusion combines the antibody-producing ability of the B cells with the immortality of the myeloma cells.
4. Select and screen the hybridoma cells to identify those that produce the desired monoclonal antibody. This involves culturing the cells and testing the antibodies they produce for specificity and affinity to the target antigen.
5. Clone the selected hybridoma cells to produce large quantities of identical cells, ensuring a consistent and renewable source of the monoclonal antibody.

Key Concepts

Monoclonal Antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies are identical antibodies produced by a single clone of B cells, which are specific to a particular antigen. They are used in various applications, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and research. Their uniformity allows for consistent results in experiments and treatments.

Hybridoma Technology

Hybridoma technology is the process used to produce monoclonal antibodies. It involves fusing a specific B cell that produces the desired antibody with a myeloma (cancer) cell, creating a hybrid cell, or hybridoma, that can proliferate indefinitely while producing the target antibody.

Immunization and Screening

The production of monoclonal antibodies begins with the immunization of an animal, typically a mouse, with an antigen to elicit an immune response. After a suitable immune response is achieved, B cells are harvested and screened for those producing the desired antibody before fusion with myeloma cells.