PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TO RICIN A CHAIN
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Date
1993-05
Department
Hood College Graduate School
Program
Hood College Biomedical Science
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Abstract
Ricin, a plant toxin found in the castor bean has been
under investigation for many years as a possible biological
threat and as an immunotoxin for use in the treatment of
cancer (1). It has been cited as one of the five most toxic
substances known and one molecule is believed to be able to
kill a single cell. Since this molecule is of such importance
in these areas it is critical that a method for the detection
and quantitation of ricin be established, as well as further
insight into its structure and mechanism of action.
Currently detection of this important molecule often
involves the use of the same polyclonal antibodies as reagents
for capture and detection in an ELISA format. This method has
many disadvantages that include a greater background leading
to higher than optimal detection limits, the great
variability of polyclonal sera, and the difficulties
associated with the production and processing of sera in
animals.