¡Monoclonal antibodies are now everywhere – Part 4!
¿What are the types of monoclonal antibodies?
One of the many ways our body defends itself against bacteria and other forms of attack is by producing large amounts of antibodies. An antibody is a protein that attaches to another specific protein called an antigen.
Researchers can design antibodies that specifically target a particular antigen, and then make many copies of that antibody in the laboratory. These are called monoclonal antibodies (mAbs, or Moabs).
¿How many types of monoclonal antibodies are produced in general?
Monoclonal antibodies are artificial proteins that act like human antibodies in the immune system. Generally speaking, there are four different ways they are produced, giving them certain characteristics:
Murine: These are made from mouse proteins.
Chimeric: These proteins are a combination of part mouse and part human.
Humanized: These are made from small parts of mouse proteins joined to mostly human proteins.
Human: These are made from entirely human proteins.
¿And why are the names so different?…..Who decides what they are called?….