The term “monoclonal” pertains to a single clone of cells – a single cell and the progeny of that cell; the antibodies produced by the single clone of cells are known as “monoclonal antibodies”.
B cells following antigenic stimulation proliferate and give clones that are capable of producing homologous antibodies with a paratope that can bind with the epitope of antigen responsible for its creation.
The homologous antibodies produced by the cells of a single clone are referred as monoclonal antibodies. Since a single antigen posses number of antigenic determinants or epitopes it can initiate proliferation and differentiation of a variety of B cell clones, that in turn produce heterogenous group of antibodies in normal conditions.
Hence collecting monoclonal antibodies from biological system is almost impossible. However to be useful as a tool, molecular biologists need substantial amounts of a single antibody (and that antibody alone) for research, diagnostic and therapeutic purpose.
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In 1975 Georges Kohler and Cesar Milstein in 1975 developed an in vitro method for the production of monoclonal antibodies by fusing a normal antibody producing B cell with myeloma cell.
The hybrid cell formed by the fusion of B cell and myeloma cell is refered as “hybridoma cell” and it becomes a powerful and versatile research tool. In 1984 the scientists were honored with Nobel Prize for their work.
In 1988 Greg Winter and his team pioneered the techniques to humanize monoclonal antibodies.