Cutting edge: long-term B cell memory in humans after smallpox vaccination.
Memory B cells are a central component of humoral immunity, and yet little is known about their longevity in humans. Immune memory after smallpox vaccination (DryVax) is a valuable benchmark for understanding the longevity of B cell memory in the absence of re-exposure to Ag. In this study, we demonstrate that smallpox vaccine-specific memory B cells last for >50 years in immunized individuals. Virus-specific memory B cells initially declined postimmunization, but then reached a plateau approximately 10-fold lower than peak and were stably maintained for >50 years after vaccination at a frequency of approximately 0.1% of total circulating IgG(+) B cells. These persisting memory B cells were functional and able to mount a robust anamnestic Ab response upon revaccination. Additionally, virus-specific CD4(+) T cells were detected decades after vaccination. These data show that immunological memory to DryVax vaccine is long-lived and may contribute to protection against smallpox.
Crotty
Shane
S
Emory Vaccine Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Felgner
Phil
P
Davies
Huw
H
Glidewell
John
J
Villarreal
Luis
L
Ahmed
Rafi
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016175:B-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; C078786:DryVax vaccine; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated