Alexandru Barbulescu

Keywords B cell germinal center antibody-mediated feedback influenza hemagglutinin plasma cell Introduction Affinity maturation of antibody responses takes place in germinal centers (GCs), microanatomical structures located within secondary lymphoid organs, where B cells undergo somatic hypermutation of their B cell receptors (BCRs) followed by affinity-dependent clonal expansion and differentiation into memory B cells and plasma cells (PCs).1,2,3,4 Entry of B cells into GCs and their...

Mesin L. Ersching J. Victora G.D. Germinal center B cell dynamics. Immunity. 2016; 45: 471-482https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2016.09.001 Victora G.D. Nussenzweig M.C. Germinal centers. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 2022; 40: 413-442https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-immunol-120419-022408 B cell responses: cell interaction dynamics and decisions. Cell.

Highlights • Memory B cell reentry into germinal centers is rare under typical boost regimens • Most (>90%) B cells in secondary GCs have no prior GC experience • A clonality bottleneck restricts the diversity of recall antibody-producing cells • Most primary diversity is found in an MBC compartment not accessed by boosting Summary Repeated exposure to pathogens or their antigens triggers anamnestic antibody responses that are higher in magnitude and affinity than the primary response.