What are monoclonal antibodies and how are they used in treatment?

Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies artificially derived from a single B cell clone (i.e. specific antibodies)An animal (typically a mouse) is injected with an antigen and produces antigen-specific plasma cellsThe plasma cells are removed and fused (hybridised) with tumour cells. Recall that tumour cells are capable of endless divisions.This leads to the formation of a hybridoma cell which is capable of synthesising large quantities of monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are used in treatment are called therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and are usually given to patients suffering of harmful infectious disease and requiring a more intense immune responsee.g. when infected by rabies (which may be fatal) injection of monoclonal antibodies constitutes an effective emergency treatment.e.g. in some cases of cancer, the body does not recognise the tumour as harmful. Therefore injection of monoclonal antibodies allow to target the tumour