- In order to battle the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala, India has gone out to Australia for monoclonal antibody doses.
- The monoclonal antibody has completed phase one studies and has been delivered to 14 people worldwide.
Why would you use it for Nipah?
- Aside from symptom relief, there is currently no effective treatment for Nipah virus infection.
- The virus has a high fatality rate of 40% to 75%, making it a dangerous hazard.
- In instance, even at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the case fatality ratio (CFR) remained below 3%.
- Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)
- Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a type of therapeutic protein that has completely transformed medicine and healthcare.
- They’re utilised for anything from treating ailments to identifying conditions and performing scientific studies.
mAbs’ structure
- Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that are produced by a single type of immune cell called a B cell.
- They are referred to as “monoclonal” since they are descended from a single, cloned parent cell.
- These antibodies have a Y-shaped structure with two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains.
- The antibody’s variable region binds to a specific antigen with exceptional precision.
Monoclonal Antibodies in Action
- Monoclonal antibodies have numerous uses in medicine, science, and diagnostics:
- MAbs are used to treat a wide range of diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and others.
- They are used to detect specific molecules such as antigens or antibodies in diagnostic procedures such as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).
- mAbs are used by scientists to examine and manipulate biological processes. They are important tools in cell biology and molecular biology studies because they may be labelled with fluorescent markers for imaging.
- For diagnostic imaging techniques such as PET (positron emission tomography) scans, monoclonal antibodies tagged with radioactive isotopes or fluorescent markers can be utilised.
- They can target specific chemicals on cancer cells, reducing the risk of harm to healthy cells during cancer treatment.
Challenges and Progress
- Despite their numerous advantages, monoclonal antibodies have certain drawbacks, including high production costs and the possibility of immunological reactions.
- Some of these issues have been solved by technological advances, such as the production of humanised antibodies (antibodies incorporating human components to minimise immunological reactivity).
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/india-to-procure-20-more-doses-of-monoclonal-antibody-from-australia-for-nipah-treatment-says-icmr-dg/article67311437.ece