New tools to study the role of B cells in cytomegalovirus infections.
B cells were previously shown to mediate partial protection against CMV infection, as in the absence of B cells, latently infected mice were more susceptible to virus reactivation. It remains unclear if this effect stems from the loss of B cells as antibody producers or as antigen presenting cells. To address this fundamental question, we propose to make use of new mouse models that allow conditional ablation of B cells or that allow for the generation of mice with B cells that are not able to produce antibodies.
Waisman
Ari
A
1st Medical Department, University of Mainz, Obere-Zahlbacherstr. 63, 55131 Mainz, Germany. Waisman@uni-mainz.de
Croxford
Andrew L
AL
Demircik
Filiz
F
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal
D000914:Antibodies, Viral