| chimeric/humanised antibody | <immunology> Genetically engineered combination of a human and mouse antibody. Because a monoclonal antibody is always made with mice cells, it causes an immune response when injected into humans. By replacing the constant regions of a mouse antibody with those of a human antibody, an antibody that binds to an antigen like the original monoclonal antibody, but which is recognised by the human immune system like a human protein, can be manufactured. Alternatively, only those amino acids directly involved in antigen binding are transferred from the mouse antibody into the framework of the human antibody, with a similar result. (05 Jan 1998) |
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