Highlights of IMMUNOLOGY2026™ - Invited Program Recordings-A life with B cells: From activation to antibody responses

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Video Summary

Facundo reflected on his career path from Argentina to leading immunology research in Cambridge, London, and Boston. He described how early mentors redirected him from marine biology to molecular biology, and how chance opportunities, persistence, and supportive colleagues shaped his journey. A central theme of the talk was B-cell biology: how B cells recognize antigen, form germinal centers, mutate their receptors, and generate high-affinity and diverse antibodies.<br /><br />He explained key discoveries from his labs, including that B-cell receptors are not freely floating but organized in membrane “islands,” and that antigen recognition involves active cytoskeletal remodeling. He also highlighted work showing how B cells first encounter antigen in lymph nodes, often through macrophages, and how immune responses are shaped by local cellular environments.<br /><br />Later, he focused on vaccine development, especially for HIV. Using rapidly engineered humanized mice, his team tests immunogens and tracks how B cells respond. He described evidence that antibody feedback can block specific epitopes, creating “epitope competition,” and that local antibody production in lymph nodes can regulate germinal center reactions. Overall, the talk combined personal history with major scientific advances aimed at informing better vaccines for HIV, flu, malaria, COVID-19, and other diseases.

Keywords

immunology

B-cell biology

germinal centers

antigen recognition

vaccine development

HIV vaccines

antibody feedback

humanized mice

molecular biology