Production of primate monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies of primate origin were produced by direct fusion of peripheral blood lymphocytes with two different fusion cell lines: SP2/0, a mouse plasmacytoma line and SBC-H2O, a human-mouse heteromyeloma. The fusion of primate lymphocytes with SP2/0 cells was not successful and only transient production of antibodies was found. The fusion of primate lymphocytes with SBC-H2O cells was more successful and resulted in the establishment of stable monoclonal antibody-producing lines especially when chimpanzee cells were used.