Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are used extensively ш basic biomedical research, in diagnosis of disease, and in treatment of illnesses, such as infections and cancer. Antibodies are important tools used by many investigators in their research and have led to many medical advances.
Producing mAb requires immunizing an animal, usually a mouse: obtaining immune cells from its spleen; and fusing the cells with a cancer cell (such as cells from a myeloma) to make them immortal, which means that they will grow and divide indefinitely. A tumor of the fused cells is called a hybridorna. and these cells secrete mAb. The development of the immortal hybridoma requires the use of animals; no commonly accepted nonanimal alternatives are available.