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Monoclonal antibodies represent a significant advancement in immunology, allowing for the production of identical antibodies from a single B cell. By fusing B cells from the spleen of immunized mice with myeloma cells, researchers create hybridomas that can be cultured to produce pure, single types of antibodies. Unlike conventional antisera, which are a mixture of various antibodies, monoclonal antibodies have specificity for particular antigens, making them invaluable for diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine.
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Adapted from Milstein (1980) Scientific American, Oct. p.58 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 1 m 3 m 2 m 4 m Antigen Spleen cells Immunization + Myeloma B cell 1 3 Cell fusion 2 1 2 3 4 4 x 1 2 3 4 Monoclonal antibodies Antiseum Pure single Ab A mixture of all Ab If a single B cell was picked up and cultured, then it will produce only one kind of antibody. But B cell can not survive well in the culture. Each B cell produces only one kind of antibody, which binds to its specific antigen. Conventional antiserum is the mixture of all antibodies produced by B cells from spleen. If B cell is fused with myeloma, the fused cell might be cultured and produce antibody. Each hybridoma line can produce pure single antibody, called monoclonal antibody. Myeloma cell can be cultured in the test tube, but can not produce useful antibody. After immunization, the mouse spleen contains B cells producing specific antibodies.
