Molecular Immunology

Our research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate B-cell activation and differentiation into antibody-secreting cells.

Antibody-secreting cells are essential for humoral immunity against pathogens, because they produce large amounts of antigen-specific antibodies. Once generated, antibody-secreting cells have the potential to become quiescent and long-lived, a process that is fundamental for immunological memory against pathogens. Despite the essential functions of these cells, the pathways and genes that regulate their fascinating and unique properties have not been fully characterized.

We established an in vivo model system for pooled sgRNA CRISPR/Cas9 screening to identify new regulators of B cell activation, plasma cell development, and maintenance within the microenvironment of secondary lymphoid organs. Some of the projects in our group aim to functionally characterize these novel regulators and dissect their roles in the development of B-cell responses.

In allergies, B-cell responses are characterized by the induction of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-expressing B cells. Our group is also interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that lead to the development of IgE-secreting plasma cells. We aimed to identify new regulators of this developmental pathway, which is a major driver of allergic diseases.

Our studies may help to elucidate potential mechanisms regulating antibody-mediated immune responses and plasma cell development and homeostasis during natural infection or vaccination, or in pathological conditions such as allergy, antibody-mediated autoimmunity, or plasma cell malignancies.