monoclonal antibody

noun

Biotechnology.

1. antibody produced by a laboratory-grown cell clone, either of a hybridoma or a virus-transformed lymphocyte, that is more abundant and uniform than natural antibody and is able to bind specifically to a single site on almost any chosen antigen or reveal previously unknown antigen sites: used as an analytic tool in scientific research and medical diagnosis and potentially important in the treatment of certain diseases. MAb

monoclonal antibody

/ ˌmɒnəʊˈkləʊnəl /

noun

1. an antibody, produced by a single clone of cells grown in culture, that is both pure and specific and is capable of proliferating indefinitely to produce unlimited quantities of identical antibodies: used in diagnosis, therapy, and biotechnology

Word History and Origins

Origin of monoclonal antibody¹

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

While an estimated 50 million people worldwide are affected, current treatment options are limited and often provide only partial symptom relief or rely on costly therapies such as monoclonal antibodies.

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Researchers at UC Santa Barbara are exploring a new therapeutic direction that aims to reach and disrupt the uncontrolled expansion of these cysts by using carefully designed monoclonal antibodies -- lab-made proteins commonly used in immunotherapy.

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Infants were also able to get immunized starting that year through monoclonal antibodies, which aren’t technically vaccines but function similarly in this case.

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To prevent severe RSV in infants, officials recommend either maternal vaccination or immunizing the infant with a monoclonal antibody.

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In large clinical trials, monoclonal antibodies relieved osteoarthritis pain better than placebo or other drugs, but because some patients experienced worsening joint damage, the treatments were not approved.

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