title: Human B cell memory.
abstract: Following an immune response two types of differentiated B cells persist in the memory pool: plasma cells, which confer immediate protection by the secretion of specific antibodies; and memory B cells, which confer rapid and enhanced response to secondary challenge. We will review recent advances in understanding the heterogeneity, dynamics, and persistence of human memory B cells and plasma cells as well as new methods to isolate human monoclonal antibodies. These findings offer new insights into the human B cell response, which are relevant for vaccination and therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Bellinzona, Switzerland. lanzavecchia@irb.unisi.ch
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanzavecchia
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sallusto
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal