Effect of Age on Antibody Diversity

National Institute On Aging

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

For antibody responses in mice, compared with males, inactivated influenza vaccination of 34 female mice causes greater production of class-switched, somatically-hypermutated antibodies and a more robust germinal center B cell response, leading to more diverse H1N1 antigen recognition and better protection against mutant influenza A viruses. Harnessing methods to improve GC B cell responses and frequencies of somatic hypermutations, especially in males, should be considered in the development of universal influenza vaccines. For Alzheimer's disease, we plan to perform a systematic analysis of B cells in the brains of AD mice. Using single-cell RNAseq and immunoglobulin repertoire analysis, B cells will be examined to identify changes in quantity and function in relation to cognitive decline.