title: B cell development in GALT: role of bacterial superantigen-like molecules.
abstract: Intestinal bacteria drive the formation of lymphoid tissues, and in rabbit, bacteria also promote development of the preimmune Ab repertoire and positive selection of B cells in GALT. Previous studies indicated that Bacillus subtilis promotes B cell follicle formation in GALT, and we investigated the mechanism by which B. subtilis stimulates B cells. We found that spores of B. subtilis and other Bacillus species, including Bacillus anthracis, bound rabbit IgM through an unconventional, superantigen-like binding site, and in vivo, surface molecules of B. anthracis spores promoted GALT development. Our study provides direct evidence that B cell development in GALT may be driven by superantigen-like molecules, and furthermore, that bacterial spores modulate host immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: Kari M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Severson
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mallozzi
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Driks
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Knight
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D018089:Superantigens / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D018089:Superantigens