title: B cells as multi-functional players during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease.
abstract: Immunity to tuberculosis is still understood to be driven and maintained by T-cell derived immune responses. With a steady influx of data, it is becoming clear that B cells, the mediators of humoral immunity, have the capacity to function in roles not previously appreciated within the traditional B cell dogma. In this review we aim to discuss B cells, from its generation through to its functioning as effectors in both the innate and adaptive immune response, within the tuberculosis domain.
authors.affiliation: SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Willem J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: du Plessis
authors.affiliation: SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Walzl
authors.affiliation: SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa. Electronic address: GL2@sun.ac.za.
authors.forename: André G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Loxton
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D060085:Coinfection; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000276:immunology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: B cell; Cytokine; HIV/TB co-infection; Immune activation; Tuberculosis