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SUMMARY:Investigations into the formation and re-activation of memory B ce
 lls - Dr Imogen Moran\; Garvan Institute of Medical Research\, Australia
DTSTART:20180614T120000Z
DTEND:20180614T130000Z
UID:TALK93538@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Bobbie Claxton
DESCRIPTION:Humoral immunity to common viral and vaccine antigens can prov
 ide lifelong protection against infection and this protection is partially
  mediated through memory B cells.\nCombined immunodeficiency patients with
  a novel mutation in the kinase STK4 were found to have decreased number o
 f memory B cells. To study the underlying immune defects in these patients
 \, a mouse model with the same mutation in Stk4 was generated by CRISPR/Ca
 s9 gene editing. Using this mouse model\, this mutation was shown to be pa
 thogenic and result in an intrinsic defect in B cell development\, the ger
 minal centre response\, secretion of antigen-specific antibodies\, and the
  formation of memory B cells. This reveals a previously unknown role for S
 TK4 in the humoral immune response. \nWe have also studied the re-activati
 on and differentiation of MBCs. Utilising two-photon microscopy\, we found
  MBCs were preferentially located in the subcapsular region of the drainin
 g lymph node where they continuously scan CD169+ subcapsular sinus macroph
 ages for antigen in the steady state. Unexpectedly\, we found that upon an
 tigen recall\, memory B cells are rapidly reactivated to proliferate and d
 ifferentiate into short-lived antibody-secreting plasmablasts in this subc
 apsular region\, in a previously unappreciated structure we have named the
  subcapsular proliferative foci (SPF). This SPF is a dynamic transient mic
 roanatomical compartment that is structurally and functionally distinct fr
 om the germinal centre. Thus\, focused delivery of antigen and T cell help
  to memory B cells within the SPF may explain the rapid kinetics of the se
 condary antibody response.\n
LOCATION:Babraham - The Cambridge Building\; Kings Hedges Room
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