Pfs230 is essential for Plasmodium falciparum transmission to mosquitoes and is the protein targeted by the most advanced malaria-transmission-blocking vaccine candidate. Prior understanding of functional epitopes on Pfs230 is based on two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) with moderate transmission-reducing activity (TRA), elicited from subunit immunization. Here, we screened the B cell repertoire of two naturally exposed individuals possessing serum TRA and identified five potent mAbs from sixteen Pfs230 domain-1-specific mAbs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe autoimmune disease known as Jo-1 positive anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) is characterized by circulating antibody titers to histidyl-tRNA synthetase (HARS), which may play a role in modulating the non-canonical functions of HARS. Monoclonal antibodies to HARS were isolated by single-cell screening and sequencing from three Jo-1 positive ASS patients and shown to be of high affinity, covering diverse epitope space. The immune response was further characterized by repertoire sequencing from the most productive of the donor samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecognition of bacterial LPS by macrophages plays a critical role in host defense against infection by Gram-negative bacteria. However, when not tightly regulated, the macrophage's response to LPS can induce severe disease and septic shock. Although LPS triggers the activation of multiple signaling pathways in macrophages, it was unclear whether these include activation of the p21Ras GTPases.
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