@article{37599c5d701a4dda9d17affd169f1bab,
title = "The germinal centre B cell response to SARS-CoV-2",
abstract = "The germinal centre (GC) response is critical for the generation of affinity-matured plasma cells and memory B cells capable of mediating long-term protective immunity. Understanding whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection or vaccination elicits a GC response has profound implications for the capacity of responding B cells to contribute to protection against infection. However, direct assessment of the GC response in humans remains a major challenge. Here we summarize emerging evidence for the importance of the GC response in the establishment of durable and broad immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and discuss new approaches to modulate the GC response to better protect against newly emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. We also discuss new findings showing that the GC B cell response persists in the draining lymph nodes for at least 6 months in some individuals following vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-based vaccines.",
author = "Laidlaw, {Brian J.} and Ellebedy, {Ali H.}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank J. S. Turner, J. Zhou, W. Kim, S. Teefey, W. Middleton, I. Pusic, J. O{\textquoteright}Halloran, R. Presti and the rest of their research teams for their contributions to the unique studies performed at Washington University School of Medicine to understand human immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. The Laidlaw laboratory is supported by NIAID grants DP2AI169978 and K22AI153015. The Ellebedy laboratory is supported by NIAID grants U01AI141990 and U01AI150747, NIAID Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance contracts HHSN272201400006C and HHSN272201400008C and NIAID Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Centers contract 75N93019C00051. The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIAID or NIH. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, Springer Nature Limited.",
year = "2022",
month = jan,
doi = "10.1038/s41577-021-00657-1",
language = "English",
volume = "22",
pages = "7--18",
journal = "Nature Reviews Immunology",
issn = "1474-1733",
number = "1",
}