Malaria-associated atypical memory B cells exhibit markedly reduced B cell receptor signaling and effector function

ABSTRACT: Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a deadly infectious disease for which we have no licensed vaccine. Antibodies confer protection against malaria and individuals exposed to P. falciparum acquire protective antibodies, but only after years of repeated infections. We recently showed that malaria exposure is associated with a large expansion of a population of atypical memory B cells (MBCs) that phenotypically resemble B cell populations expanded in chronic viral infections, including HIV. At present the relationship of atypical MBCs to classical MBCs and their function are not known. We provide evidence that the expressed VH gene repertoires and somatic hypermutation rates of atypical and classical MBCs are indistinguishable, indicating the two populations are closely related developmentally.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Dan Sturdevant 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-65928 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress