Biotech in the Pharmaceutical Industry Vocabulary

Hybridoma

Hybridoma

A B lymphocyte fused to a tumor cell; the “cell”/substance that is exposed to the antigen in the making of monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibody

“Custom-designed” antibodies that are made in a lab and are made to target/bind to a specific molecule (they are much more specific than normal antibodies).

How are monoclonal antibodies made (differently/similarly to polyclonal antibodies)?

The process of making them is similar to making polyclonal antibodies, but everything is much more specific:

• an animal is still used, but only a specific antibody is wanted, not a variety

• the B lymphocyte collected from the lab animal is fused with a tumor cell (hybridoma) to replicate

• the hybridoma is then exposed to the antigen to produce the antibody that specifically attacks the antigen

• this specific B lymphocyte is then harvested and sold

Polyclonal antibody

The traditional way of making antibodies:

• The antigen is injected into a lab animal

• lab animal produces B lymphocytes that produce (a variety) antibodies to attack antigen

• the B lymphocytes are harvested and sold

ELISA test

the test that indicates if one has the specific disease/substance in oneself; it detects the presence of an antibody or antigen (ex: rapid COVID, pregnancy, drug, air quality tests)

Indirect ELISA

An unlabeled primary antibody that attacks the antigen is put into the sample and an enzyme-labeled secondary antibody is also used in the sample. This ELISA test is used when sensitivity is very important (ex: HIV).

Direct ELISA

A primary antibody is combined with an enzyme to detect the antigen. The primary antibody has to be labeled individually (time-consuming and expensive).

Assay

To test or analyze (for) something (usually a certain substance).

Antigen

any substance the immune system recognizes as foreign (ex: viruses, bacteria, allergens) and generates an immune response (production of antibodies)

Antibody

proteins created by the immune system that attack and disable antigens and activate when the body is infected by an antigen

Epitope

regions on the surface of an antigen where an antibody attaches

Primary Antibody

antibodies that only attach to the antigen

Secondary Antibody

antibodies that only attach to a primary antibody

Vaccine Injury

A serious health problem caused by a vaccine such as a severe allergic reaction or disability.

Herd Immunity

A form of protection against a contagious disease due to a large population of people in a certain area obtaining natural immunity from the disease by either being infected or vaccinated.

Vaccine

A biological preparation that contains a small dosage of a disease and is injected into the body to stimulate the production of antibodies and to gain immunity to the disease.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus; A sexually transmitted infection (STI) that directly attacks the immune system

Gene Therapy

the use/altering of genes to treat or prevent disease (and eventually to treat genetic disorders).

CRISPR

A (DNA) defense system found in the prokaryotic genome that can specifically and easily alter DNA sequences.

B lymphocyte

B cells (of lymph nodes) that produce antibodies

Biologic

medicine made of biologically based molecules (ex: proteins)

Chimeric protein

a type of biologic in which parts of different proteins are engineered together to make a very specific protein (ex: Etanercept or Enbrel)

What are the 3 types of biologics?

substances that mimic the body’s own proteins (ex: insulin), monoclonal antibodies, chimeric/fusion proteins