What are monoclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are identical immunoglobulins that are derived from a single clone of plasma B cells. mAbs recognize and bind to a specific binding site or epitope on a single antigen. This makes them very useful for detecting particular organisms that infect the host. Monoclonal antibodies have a wide range of applications in diagnosis and therapy. They are typically used as therapeutic agents. It is possible to produce monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to almost any substance. They can then be used for the detection or purification of that substance.