Central Idea

India has reached out to Australia in its efforts to procure monoclonal antibody doses for combating the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala.
The monoclonal antibody has successfully passed phase-one trials and has been administered to 14 individuals globally.

Why use it for Nipah?

Currently, there is no effective treatment for Nipah virus infection apart from symptom relief.
The virus carries a high mortality rate ranging from 40% to 75%, making it a formidable threat.
In comparison, even during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the case fatality ratio (CFR) remained at around three percent.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are a class of therapeutic proteins that have revolutionized medicine and healthcare.
They are used in a wide range of applications, from treating diseases to diagnosing conditions and conducting scientific research.

Monoclonal antibodies are proteins produced by a single type of immune cell, known as a B cell.
They are called “monoclonal” because they are derived from a single, cloned parent cell.
These antibodies have a specific Y-shaped structure consisting of two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains.
The variable region of the antibody binds to a specific antigen with high precision.

Monoclonal antibodies have a wide range of applications in medicine, science, and diagnostics:
MAbs are used to treat various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and more.
They are used in diagnostic tests, such as ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), to detect specific molecules like antigens or antibodies.
Scientists use mAbs to study and manipulate biological processes. They can be labeled with fluorescent markers for imaging and are crucial tools in cell biology and molecular biology research.
Monoclonal antibodies labelled with radioactive isotopes or fluorescent markers can be used for diagnostic imaging techniques like PET (positron emission tomography) scans.
They can target specific molecules on cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy cells during cancer treatment.

Despite their significant benefits, monoclonal antibodies can have limitations, such as high production costs and the potential for immune responses.
Advances in technology, such as the development of humanized antibodies (antibodies with human components to reduce immune reactions), have addressed some of these challenges.