Question

The process of generating monoclonal antibodies is labor-intensive and expensive. An alternative is to use polyclonal antibodies. A subpopulation of purified polyclonal antibodies that recognize a particular antigen can be isolated by chromatography. Which type of chromatography is used for this purpose?

a. affinity
b. ion-exchange
c. gel-filtration
d. all of these answers are correct

Answer 1

Affinity chromatography is used to isolate a specific subpopulation of polyclonal antibodies that recognize a particular antigen, by exploiting the specific binding between the antibodies and the antigen.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of chromatography used to isolate a subpopulation of purified polyclonal antibodies that recognize a particular antigen is affinity chromatography. This method exploits the specific binding property of antibodies to their antigen, which can be attached to a stationary phase in the chromatographic column. As the mixture of antibodies passes through, only those with high affinity to the specific antigen are retained, and can later be eluted in a highly purified form.