Abstract

This Cambridge Immunology Network Seminar will take place on Thursday 23rd April 2026, starting at 4:00pm, in the Ground Floor Lecture Theatre, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre (JCBC)

Speaker: Claudia Ribeiro Almeida, Group Leader, Babraham Institute

Title: “RNA-Mediated Regulation of Germinal Centre B-Cell Fitness: a tale of two DEAD -box RNA helicases”

Abstract: Effective humoral immunity relies on the clonal expansion of antigen specific B-cells and the generation of high affinity antibodies within germinal centres. However, how B-cells sustain the anabolic demands imposed by antigen-driven proliferation is incompletely understood. Our studies focus on the role of DEAD -box RNA helicases, a group of RNA remodelling enzymes that collectively control every step of the mRNA life cycle. I will discuss our findings on the RNA helicases DDX1 and DDX3X , that together uncover a critical requirement for heightened protein synthesis during B-cell positive selection in germinal centres. This work identifies fundamental mechanisms underpinning germinal centre B-cell fitness that could be actioned for therapeutic purpose.

Host: Georg Petaku, Babraham Institute, Cambridge

Refreshments will be available following the seminar.