Skip to main content
polyclonal

polyclonal

1 8.2
A laboratory mixture of different antibodies that bind to many parts of a protein
  • noun
  • /ˌpɒlɪˈkloʊnəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : anticuerpo policlonal
  • However, molecular genetic analysis did not demonstrate any light-chain restriction, indicating that the plasma cells were of polyclonal origin and therefore consistent with chronic inflammation.
  • polyclonal antibodies
  • polyclonal antiserum
  • polyclonal rabbit

Examples

  • The researcher used a polyclonal antibody to detect multiple proteins in the tissue samples.

  • Alomone Labs Cat# APC-021; RRID: AB2313725 Rabbit polyclonal anti-KCa2.3

    Academic text (2017)
  • This finding implied that the plasma cells were of polyclonal rather than monoclonal origin.

    Academic text (2004)
  • About 20 to 30% of the cells stained for S-100 protein (rabbit polyclonal antiserum).

    Academic text (2001)
  • This rearrangement is monoclonal in neoplastic disease and polyclonal in reactive conditions such as KFD.

    Academic text (2009)
  • Cell culture isolates were identified by using neutralization tests consisting of standard polyclonal antiserum typing according to WHO recommendations (21, 22).

    Academic text (2013)
  • In parallel experiments, we immunoprecipitated TF with polyclonal antibody and identified the molecule with each of the two monoclonal antibodies (not shown).

    Academic text (2002)
  • Immunohistochemistry procedure for active caspase-3 (AB3623, Millipore, Temecula, CA, USA, and polyclonal antibody) was also performed.

    Blog text (23)
  • In normal skin, sebaceous glands exhibited positive staining for EMA; the polyclonal anti-CEA antibody reacted with the sebaceous ducts.

    Academic text (2007)
  • For accurate results, she required a high-quality polyclonal serum that recognized various antigen components.

Antonyms

monoclonal
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A lab-made antibody made from one cell so all copies are identical

How Diverse

polyclonal
  • Specialized
1 8.2
monoclonal
  • Specialized
1 8.4

Surface Forms

polyclonal singular
polyclonals plural

Morphology

polyclonal = clonal (semi-transparent) = poly + clone + al

The structure poly- + clonal is clear, but the immunological sense is specialized and not fully guessable from the parts alone.

Etymology

Polyclonal as a noun means a mixed set of antibodies. The name comes from poly- ('many') and clone ('copy' or a family of cells'), which is why a polyclonal contains many different antibodies that can recognize different parts of a virus or germ.