The prominent display of opsonized antigen by follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) has long favored the view that they serve as antigen-presenting cells for B cells. Surprisingly, however, although B cell capture of antigen from macrophages and dendritic cells has been visualized, acquisition from FDCs has not been directly observed. Using two-photon microscopy, we visualized B cell capture of cog...

Despite excellent vaccine coverage in developed countries, whooping cough is a reemerging disease that can be caused by two closely related pathogens, Bordetella pertussis and B. parapertussis. The two are antigenically distinct, and current vaccines, containing only B. pertussis-derived antigens, confer efficient protection against B. pertussis but not against B. parapertussis. B. pertussis do...

Abstract Successful initiation of the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, and subsequent antigen-encounter in germinal centers are both marked by sharp increases CD25 surface-expression. Likewise, oncogenic signaling leukemia (B-ALL) lymphoma induces CD25-surface expression. While is known as an IL2-receptor chain on T- NK-cells, significance its expression B-cells was unclear. We discovered that,...

The B cell is a vital contributor to humoral immunity. The B cell-specific antigen CD20 is expressed during B cell development, starting at the pre-B cell level and persists through B cell differentiation, but is lost during terminal differentiation to plasma cells. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that destroys both normal and malignant B cells that have CD20 on their surfaces and is ther...

Delayed clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen was previously reported in a 38 year old woman after high dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell rescue. Sixteen months later, this patient remained hepatitis B surface antigen negative, hepatitis B surface antibody positive, and serum hepatitis B DNA negative by polymerase chain reaction. Serial liver biopsies (one at hepat...