Question

What are monoclonal antibodies? Mention its use.

Answer 1

Monoclonal antibody, antibody produced artificially through genetic engineering and related techniques. Production of monoclonal antibodies was one of the most important techniques of biotechnology to emerge during the last quarter of the 20th century. When activated by an antigen, a circulating B cell multiplies to form a clone of plasma cells, each secreting identical immunoglobulin molecules. It is such immunoglobulins—derived from the descendants of a single B cell—that are called monoclonal antibodies.

Current major therapeutic applications of monoclonal antibodies include cancer, chronic inflammatory disease, and infection and they constitute the largest and fastest growing sector of the biological pharmaceutical industry.