With reference to monoclonal antibodies, often mentioned in news, consider the following statements:

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Question

With reference to monoclonal antibodies, often mentioned in news, consider the following statements:They are man-made proteins.They stimulate immunological function due to their ability to bind to specific antigens.They are used in treating viral infections like that of Nipah virus.Which of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D - I, II and IIIStep-by-step Solution:Statement I - They are man-made proteins: This is correct. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are laboratory-engineered proteins. They are produced by identical immune cells (clones of a single parent cell - hence 'monoclonal') using hybridoma technology or recombinant DNA techniques. They are glycoproteins of the immunoglobulin class, identical in structure, and designed to bind to a specific target (antigen). ✓Statement II - They stimulate immunological function due to their ability to bind to specific antigens: This is correct. Monoclonal antibodies work precisely because of their ability to bind with high specificity and affinity to a particular antigen (e.g., a viral protein, cancer cell marker, or cytokine). Upon binding, they can: neutralise pathogens or toxins; mark targets for destruction by immune cells (via ADCC - antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity); block receptors to prevent disease signalling; or deliver therapeutic agents (immunotoxins). ✓Statement III - They are used in treating viral infections like that of Nipah virus: This is correct. Monoclonal antibodies have been developed against several viral diseases. For Nipah virus, the monoclonal antibody m102.4 (developed by CSIRO, Australia) has been used in compassionate/emergency use settings during Nipah outbreaks in Kerala, India. Anti-viral mAbs are also available for COVID-19 (e.g., bebtelovimab), Ebola (atoltivimab), Rabies, and RSV (palivizumab for prophylaxis in infants). ✓Why other options are incorrect:Option A (I and II only): Incorrect. Statement III is also correct - mAbs including m102.4 are used against Nipah virus.Option B (II and III only): Incorrect. Statement I is also correct - mAbs are indeed man-made proteins.Option C (I and III only): Incorrect. Statement II is also correct - their therapeutic mechanism is precisely based on specific antigen binding which modulates immune function.Key Concept: Monoclonal antibodies are produced using hybridoma technology (Köhler and Milstein, 1975 - Nobel Prize 1984) or recombinant technology. They are named with suffixes: -omab (fully murine), -ximab (chimeric), -zumab (humanised), -umab (fully human). Examples: Trastuzumab (HER2+ breast cancer), Rituximab (lymphoma), Adalimumab (autoimmune), Bevacizumab (cancer - anti-VEGF), Nivolumab (PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor). During the 2018 and 2023 Nipah outbreaks in Kerala, India, the experimental mAb m102.4 was administered under compassionate use protocols.

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