Monoclonal Antibodies for Emerging Infectious Diseases — Borrowing from History

Panel A shows early techniques to collect polyclonal serum from individuals recovering from disease after infectious virus is cleared and antibody response has been generated. Panel B shows monoclonal antibody isolation from mice, using antigen introduction into mice, collection of B cells from mouse spleens, and production of fully mouse, antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies. Panel C shows a technique for isolation of monoclonal antibodies from humans, using antigen introduction (through natural infection or immunization), collection of immune cells from peripheral blood or lymphoid tissue, selection of B cells expressing antibodies of interest (e.g., using flow cytometry), and production of fully human, antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies. Panel D shows polyclonal antibodies binding diverse regions or epitopes on the virion, whereas Panel E shows monoclonal antibodies representing a single antibody that targets a single epitope.