Meningococcemia is a classic model of overwhelming sepsis. By contrast, an infection of the membranes of the brain and spinal column by these bacteria is called meningococcal meningitis. It is characterized by fever, headache and a stiff neck, and while still serious, is a less deadly disease. An antibody is a protein manufactured by the body in response to exposure to an antigen, a foreign protein. Clones are genetically identical copies of a cell line.
Monoclonal antibodies are therefore, identical antibodies produced by a clone.
Antibodies may be engineered to do a specific immunological job, such as block T cell activity or to target a particular organism. One of them, Domain III, is the source of several antifungal compounds now in preclinical and toxicology studies. A clinical study undertaken to establish baseline values or to understand a disease in its natural state. For example, XOMA did a natural history study in 40 cystic fibrosis patients to determine what kind of organisms were involved in their infections, and to obtain samples for bacterial culture and testing. XOMA's tradename for its injectable systemic formulation of rBPI-21.