Insights From Analysis of Human Antigen-Specific Memory B Cell Repertoires

• Main Authors: Hemangi B. Shah, Kenneth Smith, Jonathan D. Wren, Carol F. Webb, Jimmy D. Ballard, Rebecka L. Bourn, Judith A. James, Mark L. Lang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2019-01-01
• Series: Frontiers in Immunology
• Subjects: memory B cells; vaccination; monoclonal antibody; antibody repertoires; next generation sequencing
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2018.03064/full

Memory B cells that are generated during an infection or following vaccination act as sentinels to guard against future infections. Upon repeat antigen exposure memory B cells differentiate into new antibody-secreting plasma cells to provide rapid and sustained protection. Some pathogens evade or suppress the humoral immune system, or induce memory B cells with a diminished ability to differentiate into new plasma cells. This leaves the host vulnerable to chronic or recurrent infections. Single cell approaches coupled with next generation antibody gene sequencing facilitate a detailed analysis of the pathogen-specific memory B cell repertoire. Monoclonal antibodies that are generated from antibody gene sequences allow a functional analysis of the repertoire. This review discusses what has been learned thus far from analysis of diverse pathogen-specific memory B cell compartments and describes major differences in their repertoires. Such information may illuminate ways to advance the goal of improving vaccine and therapeutic antibody design.