UPSC Prelims 2025Question 48Science & Technology

With reference to monoclonal antibodies, often mentioned in news, consider the following statements:
I. They are man-made proteins.
II. They stimulate immunological function due to their ability to bind to specific antigens.
III. They are used in treating viral infections like that of Nipah virus.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Options

(a)I and II only
(b)II and III only
(c)I and III only
(d)I, II and III

Correct answer: d

Decision rule

A therapy defined by binding one specific antigen is engineered, immunologically active and usable against named viruses; these claims reinforce each other.

Explanation

Correct Answer:

(d) I, II and III

Explanation of the Correct Answer:

Statement I: They are man-made proteins
- Correct. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-produced molecules engineered to function like natural antibodies.
- They are designed to mimic immune responses by targeting specific antigens.
Statement II: They stimulate immunological function due to their ability to bind to specific antigens
- Correct. Each monoclonal antibody binds to a specific epitope (region on an antigen), helping the immune system recognize and eliminate infected cells or pathogens.
- This targeted response is why mAbs are widely used in immunotherapy.
Statement III: They are used in treating viral infections like that of Nipah virus
- Correct. Monoclonal antibodies have been developed and tested for Nipah virus, a deadly zoonotic virus with no widely approved treatment.
- Notably, m102.4, a monoclonal antibody, has been used under compassionate use protocols to treat Nipah virus infections.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

(a) I and II only – Incorrect: Statement III is also correct.
(b) II and III only – Incorrect: Statement I is correct too.
(c) I and III only – Incorrect: Statement II is also correct.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Table: Evaluation of Statements on Monoclonal Antibodies

Statement	Content	Correct?	Explanation
I	Monoclonal antibodies are man-made proteins	Yes	Created using biotechnology; mimic natural antibodies
II	They bind to antigens and stimulate immune function	Yes	Basis of their use in immunotherapy and targeted treatments
III	Used in treating viral infections like Nipah virus	Yes	Antibodies like m102.4 have been trialed in Nipah cases

Related Concepts:

Term	Explanation
Monoclonal Antibodies	Identical antibodies derived from a single clone of B-cells; target specific antigens
m102.4	Experimental monoclonal antibody developed for Nipah and Hendra virus
Immunotherapy	Treatment that uses parts of the immune system to fight diseases like cancer and infections
Antigen	Foreign substance (e.g., virus protein) that induces an immune response

Current Relevance:

mAbs were used during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., REGN-COV2) for treating early-stage infections.
India’s Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has shown interest in monoclonal antibodies for managing emerging viral diseases like Nipah and Ebola.
mAbs are also central to cancer therapies and autoimmune disease treatments (e.g., rituximab, trastuzumab).

Table: Concepts Related to Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs)

Concept	Description	Key Examples / Applications	Remarks
Monoclonal Antibodies	Lab-engineered proteins that mimic immune response by targeting specific antigens	Rituximab (cancer), m102.4 (Nipah), REGN-COV2 (COVID-19)	Derived from a single clone of B-cells; high specificity
Antigen Binding	mAbs bind to specific molecular structures (epitopes) on pathogens or cells	Cancer cells, virus proteins, autoimmune markers	Enables targeted neutralization or immune activation
Immunological Stimulation	Binding of mAbs to antigens can lead to immune-mediated destruction of target cells	ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity), complement activation	Basis of therapeutic effect in many diseases
Treatment of Viral Infections	mAbs can neutralize viruses by binding to surface proteins and preventing cell entry	m102.4 (Nipah), REGN-COV2 (COVID), ZMapp (Ebola)	Often used under compassionate use protocols for emerging viral threats
m102.4 (for Nipah virus)	Experimental monoclonal antibody targeting G glycoprotein of Nipah virus	Used in small number of human cases	Not yet approved widely but shows promise in preclinical and early human use
Deep Learning in Biotech	AI tools are used to design and optimize mAbs for better binding and safety	AlphaFold (protein structure), antibody design algorithms	Speeds up discovery and reduces trial-and-error in lab settings

Additional Notes on mAbs:

Area	Detail
Production	Typically produced using hybridoma technology or recombinant DNA technology
Delivery	Usually administered via injection or infusion
Advantages	High specificity, reduced off-target effects
Challenges	Cost, need for cold storage, possible resistance in rapidly mutating viruses

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