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Infection-induced plasmablasts are a nutrient sink that impairs humoral immunity to malaria
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Infection-induced plasmablasts are a nutrient sink that impairs humoral immunity to malaria

Rahul Vijay, Jenna J Guthmiller, Alexandria J Sturtz, Fionna A Surette, Kai J Rogers, Ramakrishna R Sompallae, Fengyin Li, Rosemary L Pope, Jo-Anne Chan, Fabian de Labastida Rivera, …
Nature immunology, Vol.21(7), pp.790-801
07/2020
DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-0678-5
PMCID: PMC7316608
PMID: 32424361

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Abstract

Plasmodium parasite-specific antibodies are critical for protection against malaria, yet the development of long-lived and effective humoral immunity against Plasmodium takes many years and multiple rounds of infection and cure. Here, we report that the rapid development of short-lived plasmablasts during experimental malaria unexpectedly hindered parasite control by impeding germinal center responses. Metabolic hyperactivity of plasmablasts resulted in nutrient deprivation of the germinal center reaction, limiting the generation of memory B cell and long-lived plasma cell responses. Therapeutic administration of a single amino acid to experimentally infected mice was sufficient to overcome the metabolic constraints imposed by plasmablasts and enhanced parasite clearance and the formation of protective humoral immune memory responses. Thus, our studies not only challenge the current model describing the role and function of blood-stage Plasmodium-induced plasmablasts but they also reveal new targets and strategies to improve anti-Plasmodium humoral immunity.
Adolescent Adult Amino Acids - administration & dosage Amino Acids - metabolism Animals Antibodies, Protozoan - blood Antibodies, Protozoan - immunology Antibodies, Protozoan - metabolism Antimalarials - administration & dosage Disease Models, Animal DNA, Protozoan - isolation & purification Germinal Center - cytology Germinal Center - immunology Germinal Center - metabolism Host-Parasite Interactions - immunology Humans Immunity, Humoral Malaria - blood Malaria - drug therapy Malaria - immunology Malaria - parasitology Mice Mice, Transgenic Middle Aged Nutrients - metabolism Plasma Cells - immunology Plasma Cells - metabolism Plasma Cells - parasitology Plasmodium falciparum - genetics Plasmodium falciparum - immunology Plasmodium falciparum - isolation & purification Proof of Concept Study Young Adult

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