Paper I
2024 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) · 40 marks · 120 min

Question

Monoclonal antibodies and its TWO applications

Q102 marksShort Notes

Answer

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are antibodies of a single specificity, derived from a single clone of B cells (or, in modern production, from engineered cell lines), all identical in structure and directed against one specific epitope — produced classically by hybridoma technology (Köhler and Milstein), fusing an antibody-producing B cell with an immortal myeloma cell line.

Two applications:

  1. Diagnostic immunoassays — monoclonal antibodies provide highly specific reagents for detecting microbial antigens or host markers in tests such as ELISA, rapid antigen-detection kits, and flow cytometry (e.g., enumerating CD4+ T-cell counts in HIV monitoring using anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies).
  2. Targeted (passive immuno-)therapy — monoclonal antibody preparations directed against a specific pathogen, toxin, or host target provide targeted treatment or prophylaxis (e.g., palivizumab, an anti-RSV monoclonal antibody used for prophylaxis in high-risk infants; anti-toxin monoclonal antibodies).

(Other valid applications: serotyping/strain identification of bacteria/viruses; point-of-care rapid diagnostic tests, e.g., lateral flow immunochromatographic assays.)

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