| An antibody catalogue from a major supplier of | | | | A polyclonal antibody is actually a mixture of |
| antibodies will offer several antibodies of the | | | | antibodies from lots of different B cells. They |
| same substance. Some will be polyclonal and some | | | | vary in how well they recognise the substance |
| monoclonal. Choosing between these two types is | | | | (specificity). Some of these antibodies will also |
| the first decision a researcher has to make. | | | | recognise other substances with a similar |
| Polyclonal antibodies are cheaper, because they | | | | structure. A monoclonal antibody derives from |
| are much simpler to produce. Animals are injected | | | | one parent cell so all the molecules are identical. It |
| with the substance of interest. The animals | | | | is highly specific for one particular structure on the |
| produce antibodies, which are released into the | | | | substance of interest. |
| blood. Serum is collected from the animals. The | | | | The choice of antibody depends on how it will be |
| antibodies are then isolated from the serum. | | | | used. If high specificity is needed, a monoclonal |
| Monoclonal antibodies require more complex | | | | antibody may well be best. However, monoclonal |
| technology and thus are more expensive to | | | | antibodies can sometimes be too particular. If the |
| produce. Antibody-producing cells (B cells) from | | | | substance of interest undergoes chemical changes |
| the spleen of an immunised animal are fused on a | | | | or becomes degraded, a monoclonal antibody |
| one-to-one basis with B cells originally obtained | | | | might no longer recognise it. In this case, the |
| from a B cell cancer. The cancer cells do not | | | | broader specificity of a polyclonal mixture may be |
| produce antibodies themselves. The resulting | | | | a better choice. |
| hybridoma is immortal like a cancer cell, but also | | | | Contact us at Novus Biologicals for any |
| produces antibody. The hybridoma is grown in | | | | information or assistance with regard to |
| culture to obtain many identical antibody-producing | | | | antibodies. Our antibody catalogue is a resource |
| cells. The antibodies are harvested from the | | | | that many researchers benefit from utilising. |
| culture medium. | | | | |