Fiocca Vernengo

Introduction Antibody-secreting cells (ASC) play a crucial role in protecting against pathogens through their particular capacity for immunoglobulin production. ASC represent the final stage of B-cell differentiation and are conventionally classified as either plasmablasts (PB), which are proliferative and short-lived, or the terminally differentiated subpopulation, PC, which are typically non-proliferative, produce larger amounts of antibody and can persist for extended periods (1).

Introduction Chagas’ disease is caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This acute and chronic illness affects millions of people in the Americas (1) and show increasing frequency in non-endemic areas in Europe and North America due to human migration (2). During experimental T. cruzi infection, the innate and acquired cell-mediated immune responses, involving many cell populations such as NK cells, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells, are required for host resistance (3).

Introduction Regulatory T (Treg) cells, defined by the expression of the lineage transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), are able to suppress most immune cells (1) and their suppressive function is crucial for immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmunity (2). In addition, Treg cells were shown to be critical mediators in the modulation of host-microbe interaction during infections and to play beneficial or deleterious roles in host resistance (3).