Monoclonal antibodies in forensic serology

Abstract

Since 1975, when monoclonal antibodies were first reported to be produced by in vitro cultures, by Kohler and Milstein, many cell lines were developed to produce antibodies with predefined specificities against various antigenic determinants. This led to a logarithmic increase in use of such constant nature reagents. Because of their obvious advantages in use over older, conventional, polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal reagents were introduced to use in forensic matters, and are now being constantly used to replace polyclonal antibodies and perform new reactions unknown with polyclonal reagents in forensic serology studies. The role of these new reagents is studied with reference to blood group serology, including the ABO, Rhesus, MNSs, and Lewis systems. A comparative review is given with details of methods employed, involving use of both polyclonal and monoclonal reagents. Besides, the possibilities of the application of monoclonal antibodies in typing Gm and Km serum immunoglobulins are considered. The recently introduced HLA system typing is also reviewed with regard to it's genetics and it's applications in forensic cases. Monoclonal antibodies may prnvi.de an answer to the various problems related to specificity and cross-reactions that are frequently encountered in such a system. The possibilities of the applications of monoclonal reagents is briefly reviewed. Furthermore, a discussion regarding the possible use of monoclonal antibodies in isoenzyme typing follows, and includes a brief account of the methods that might be proposed.