biostudies-literatureScherer EMNIAID NIH HHSNCI NIH HHS55-64https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5006801biostudies-literatureUnknown10Although licensed human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are most efficacious in persons never infected with HPV, they also reduce infection and disease in previously infected subjects, indicating natural immunity is not entirely protective against HPV re-infection. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine the B cell memory elicited by HPV infection and evaluate whether vaccination merely boosts antibody (Ab) levels in previously infected subjects or also improves the quality of B cell memory. Toward this end, the memory B cells (Bmem) of five unvaccinated, HPV-seropositive subjects were isolated and characterized, and subject recall responses to a single HPV vaccine dose were analyzed. Vaccination boosted Ab levels 24- to 930-fold (median 77-fold) and Bmem numbers 3- to 27-fold (mediEBioMedicineA Single Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Dose Improves B Cell Memory in Previously Infected Subjects.PMC5006801T32 AI007140R01 AI038382P30 CA015704Wipf GCStern MGalloway DAScherer EMSmith RACarter JJHoyos MGallego DFTrinklein NDWald AThurston TfalseA Single Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Dose Improves B Cell Memory in Previously Infected Subjects.Although licensed human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are most efficacious in persons never infected with HPV, they also reduce infection and disease in previously infected subjects, indicating natural immunity is not entirely protective against HPV re-infection. The aim of this exploratory study was to examine the B cell memory elicited by HPV infection and evaluate whether vaccination merely boosts antibody (Ab) levels in previously infected subjects or also improves the quality of B cell memory. Toward this end, the memory B cells (Bmem) of five unvaccinated, HPV-seropositive subjects were isolated and characterized, and subject recall responses to a single HPV vaccine dose were analyzed. Vaccination boosted Ab levels 24- to 930-fold (median 77-fold) and Bmem numbers 3- to 27-fold (medi2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Aug2026-04-17T13:44:38.793Z2025-05-31T23:49:53.852ZS-EPMC50068012742319010.1016/j.ebiom.2016.06.042