IMMUNOLOGY2024™ Conference Recordings-SARS-CoV-2-specific atypical memory B cells induced by mRNA vaccine exhibit robust effector functions

SARS-CoV-2-specific atypical memory B cells induced by mRNA vaccine exhibit robust effector functions

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Video Summary

The speaker presented research on atypical memory B cells induced by mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Using single-cell sequencing, antigen tetramers, and flow cytometry, they identified a TBX21-high, CD11C+FCRL5+ memory B-cell subset distinct from classical memory B cells. These cells expanded after repeated vaccinations, showed enriched antigen-presentation and effector signatures, and accumulated somatic hypermutations, suggesting affinity maturation. In ex vivo stimulation, atypical memory B cells differentiated into antibody-secreting cells more robustly and produced comparable neutralizing antibodies to classical memory B cells. The speaker concluded that these cells may function as effector-like memory B cells in vaccination-induced immunity.

Keywords

atypical memory B cells

mRNA COVID-19 vaccination

single-cell sequencing

TBX21-high CD11C FCRL5

antibody-secreting cells