Precursor Frequency and Affinity Determine B Cell Competitive Fitness in Germinal Centers, Tested with Germline-Targeting HIV Vaccine Immunogens.

ABSTRACT: How precursor frequencies and antigen affinities impact interclonal B cell competition is a particularly relevant issue for candidate germline-targeting HIV vaccine designs because of the in vivo rarity of naive B cells that recognize broadly neutralizing epitopes. Knowing the frequencies and affinities of HIV-specific VRC01-class naive human B cells, we transferred B cells with germline VRC01 B cell receptors into congenic recipients to elucidate the roles of precursor frequency, antigen affinity, and avidity on B cell responses following immunization. All three factors were interdependently limiting for competitive success of VRC01-class B cells. In physiological high-affinity conditions using a multivalent immunogen, rare VRC01-class B cells successfully competed in germinal centers (GC

SUBMITTER: Abbott RK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5773359 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature