Search

The present new version of this popular laboratory manual is at the same time the first one of this text in the English language - and this makes me even a little proud, as it reminds me of probably the first collection of monoclonal recipes in English, written by myself, which circulated for a couple of years in many laboratories. In the meantime many researchers have put enormous effort into improving methods for monoclonal antibody production. The proce­ dures have become more and more standardized and by this have more and more lost the character of magic secrets. Hinrich Peters and Horst Baumgarten, who had followed this good tradition already in the previous edition, written in German, suc­ ceeded in making laboratory tricks teachable. They had contributed their own experiences in cell culture and immunology, and were able to engage a number of experienced authors to contribute to the work. They were all willing to follow the general concept of this book, which contains a brief theoretical background for the methods described and presents the procedures in a highly organized structure. So the book has retained its shape as a'cook-book', which I especially like.

Monoclonal Antibodies: Methods and Protocols examines a collection of state-of-the-art methods that employ monoclonal antibodies in a clinical setting with opening chapters focusing on the gold standard method for generating mouse monoclonal antibodies through hybridoma technology, future methods for engineering recombinant and humanized antibodies, methods for engineering soluble Fc fusion protein, and the use of antibodies and flow cytometry in the quantification of cell signaling proteins. Specific chapters describe how antibodies are used for the diagnosis and classification of hematologic diseases. Subsequent chapters examine the advantages and most recent advances of using bead-based immunoassays, including the ability of bead-based technology to multiplex and analyze several analytes simultaneously, and the use of beads in detecting fusion proteins resulting from chromosomal translocations. Concluding chapters provide additional examples of methodologies that employ monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal Antibodies: Methods and Protocols provides descriptions of methods that cover a wide spectrum of applications in the field of monoclonal antibodies. This field will continue to expand and provide new and innovative techniques, not only in the laboratory, but also as a basis that complements targeted therapy.

Monoclonal Antibodies: A Practical Approach covers the preparation, testing, derivation, and applications of monoclonal antibodies. New immunological techniques incorporating tried and tested methodologies are described, making the book of interest to established and inexperienced immunologists. Both the standard somatic hybridization technique and recombinant techniques, including the use of phage libraries, for the preparation of rodent and human monoclonal antibodies are described. Protocols for both the small and large scale production are detailed, as well as purification and labelling (with both radioisotopes and non-radioisotopes) methods. The applications of monoclonal antibodies in immunoblotting, enzyme linked immunoassays, immunofluorescence, and FACS analysis are all covered in detail. Finally protocols are given for the use of monoclonal antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis, tissue typing, detecting DNA modified during chemotherapy, and in the clinical analysis of transplantation samples for malignancy. This book will therefore be an invaluable laboratory companion to anyone using monoclonal antibodies in their research.

The applicability of immunotechniques to a wide variety of research problems in many areas of biology and chemistry has expanded dramatically over the last two decades ever since the introduction of monoclonal antibodies and sophisticated immunosorbent techniques. Exquisitely specific antibody molecules provide means of separation, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and localization useful to anyone doing biological or biochemical research. This practical guide to immunotechniques is especially designed to be easily understood by people with little practical experience using antibodies. It clearly presents detailed, easy-to-follow, step-by-step methods for the widely used techniques that exploit the unique properties of antibodies and will help researchers use antibodies to their maximum advantage. - Detailed, easy-to-follow, step-by-step protocols - Convenient, easy-to-use format - Extensive practical information - Essential background information - Helpful hints