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Monoclonal antibodies are commonly used to fight a large number of diseases including cancer. The monoclonal antibodies fight the disease by targeting a certain antigen and recruiting the body's natural immune system to destroy the antigen-infected cells.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoMonoclonal antibodies are specifically being used to treat cancer at the moment. But there is a lot of research being done in the area.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoMonoclonal antibodies work on specific cells. They are used in cancer treatment and in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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Exciting New Treatments For Cancer And Autoimmune Diseases?
Antibodies are produced by the body's immune system when an infection occurs. Under normal circumstances, the antibodies that are produced recognize a broad range of targets, for example, different parts of a virus or bacteria. Each specific antibody is known as a clone, and the normal response to an infection is a polyclonal response, because many different specificities are represented.Polyclonal antibodies purified from animals are commonly used tool in biological research. However, the polyclonal nature of antibodies can be detrimental, as the exact specificity is unknown. In order to overcome these complications, scientists developed a method for generating monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), i.e., antibodies of a single specificity. Ultimately, the development of the technology for producing monoclonal antibodies resulting in the presentation of the 1984 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Niels Jerne, Georges Kohler and Cesar Milstein.Immediately following the development of monoclonal antibodies, these reagents were primarily utilized as research tools. Subsequently, mAbs have been developed into important diagnostic tests including pregnancy tests, HIV screening tests, and cancer diagnostics.More recently, monoclonal antibodies have been developed for the treatment of a number of different diseases. Thus far, this type of biological therapy has been FDA-approved for the treatment of various cancers and autoimmune diseases as well as the prevention of rejection of transplanted organs.Monoclonal antibody treatment of cancer is effective because the antibody can be used to block pathways that drive the growth of the cancer cells or inhibit the ability of the tumor to drive the development of new blood vessels that are required to supply the growing tumor with nutrients. In the case of autoimmune disease, including multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, monoclonal antibody therapies can block the cells that cause damage from entering the tissues they target or they can block the ability of the cells to function. Similarly, monoclonal antibodies can be used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs, a response that is driven by activation of the immune system.Monoclonal antibodies are an exciting new avenue of intervention for diseases that have traditionally been very difficult to treat. Research regarding this approach is ongoing, and new drugs are being approved frequently. For example, the FDA has approved two new monoclonal antibody drugs in the first quarter of 2011 alone, illustrating the rapid progress of this new tactic for treating chronic diseases.
Will scientists someday be able to create custom antibodies that can fight off diseases?
There is currently research being done into the field of artificial antibodies. These will enable scientiest to come up with custom cures.
When native americans first encountered europeans what led to the european disease being so deadly?
because the native Americans did not have any contact with outside continent germs, and viruses. When the Europeans came into america, they brought with them all foreign germs and diseases.
What can your body get antibodies from?
Your body creates antibodies - as a result of being infected. An antibody only attacks an infection it's been 'programmed' to identify - so a single antibody will not attack multiple diseases. For example - say a person develops measles and chicken pox. Their immune system would produce two different antibodies to attack each disease.
Why do children get vaccinations?
Children are vaccinated against several diseases: polio, smallpox, to name two, in order to create antibodies in their blood. These antibodies will help to fight off any attack in the future by the polio, smallpox viruses. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> To add to the very good answer above- I am an old guy (great grandfather) When I was a child, there were many diseases that you could catch- measles, chicken pox, polio, diphtheria, typhus, smallpox- and each year, children died from those diseases. Being vaccinated against those diseases keeps you from catching those diseases- and that means that children do not die, but live to grow up.
What was bad about the disease of the Columbian Exchange?
The exchange of different diseases that each group wasn't able to survive, being that their bodies had never built up the needed antibodies to fight away the viruses/bacteria.
How does a vaccination work differently than taking antibodies?
Taking a vaccination - you are enabling your body to produce antibodies. Taking antibodies - you get antibodies, but they eventually disappear from your blood stream, and without them being replenished by your own cells, you lose the protection.
Advantages for zoo animals?
They are treated and fed fairly. They are also safe from dangers like being eaten by the predators and killed by diseases. Also lack of food wouldn't be the problem for them.
How does the body protect itdelf afetr being bit by a dog?
The body protects itself after being bit by a dog by producing antibodies. The antibodies are created to protect the body from any disease that can be transmitted.
How do you explain being treated in a dignified way?
"Explain being treated in a dignified way?"
What special blood protein fight s diseases?
Certain types of WBCs produce antibodies, which are special proteins that recognize foreign materials and help the body destroy or neutralize them. The white blood cell count (the number of cells in a given amount of blood) in someone with an infection often is higher than usual because more WBCs are being produced or are entering the bloodstream to battle the infection.To make your desired answer simple; antibodies are special blood proteins to help fight diseases.
Can antibodies be used up?
Antibodies are continuous being produced by activated B cells in your body as a response to your constant exposure to invaders. Antibodies are proteins and synthesized like proteins. Therefore, antibodies will be produced until you die. However, antibodies against a certain type of invaders may disappear when the invaders are eliminated. The ability of the body to respond to the same invaders when they come again lies in the preservation of the B cells that produced these antibodies, not the actual antibodies themselves.
