Polyclonal antibody

Polyclonal Antibody

A Polyclonal antibody is a type of antibody produced by different B cell lineages within the body (poly+clonal). These antibodies are secreted by different types of plasma cells and each recognizes a different antigenic determinant, or epitope, on the antigen.

Production

Polyclonal antibodies are produced by injecting an animal with an antigen to which the animal responds by producing a diverse population of antibodies. The animal's immune system responds to the injection by producing B cells that produce antibodies against various epitopes of the antigen. The serum of the animal contains the polyclonal antibodies and is used as a source of antibodies.

Applications

Polyclonal antibodies are used in a variety of applications including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, ELISA, Western blot, and flow cytometry. They are also used in research to detect and quantify proteins, carbohydrates, and other molecules.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of polyclonal antibodies is their ability to recognize multiple epitopes on an antigen, which makes them more tolerant of minor changes in the antigen. This is particularly useful in immunohistochemistry where the antigen may be partially degraded. However, the production of polyclonal antibodies is not easily standardized and the specificity of the antibodies can vary.

See Also

• Monoclonal antibody
• Antigen
• Epitope
• B cell
• Plasma cell