Understanding and making use of human memory B cells.
The work of our laboratory has focused on the study of human memory B cells. Using an in vitro approach we dissected the triggering requirements of B cells and unveiled a distinct role for TLRs in the activation of naive versus memory B cells. Using an ex vivo approach we analyzed the dynamics of memory B cells and ASCs and the kinetics of serum antibodies during secondary immune responses and in steady state conditions and used these quantitative data to build up a model of serological memory. According to this model memory B cells behave as ;stem cells' capable of generating plasma cells and antibodies in an antigen-dependent as well as in an antigen-independent fashion. Finally we developed an efficient method to interrogate human memory B cells and to isolate human monoclonal antibodies. This method can be exploited for the production of neutralizing antibodies for serotherapy and for "analytic vaccinology".
Lanzavecchia
Antonio
A
Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland. lanzavecchia@irb.unisi.ch
Bernasconi
Nadia
N
Traggiai
Elisabetta
E
Ruprecht
Claudia R
CR
Corti
Davide
D
Sallusto
Federica
F
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors