Single cell transcriptomics reveals memory B cell activation and antibody selection

Researchers at Stanford University (Stanford, CA, USA) characterized a distinct transcriptional profile for B cells that had been activated by influenza vaccine and undergone clonal expansion. Tracking the changing immune repertoire over time, they identified five vaccination-responsive clones. Fewer than half of the antibodies produced by these clones were specific to influenza, suggesting vaccination can cause clonal expansion of bystander antibodies.