The goal of this Core is to establish novel single cell technology to analyze specific plasmablasts during an ongoing immune response to SIV vaccinafion or infecfion in rhesus macaques. We will generate detailed informafion about the dynamics, immunoglobulin isotype useage and phenotype of the plasmablast responses induced both at a systemic level as well as at mucosal sites, and determine how these responses are modulated by the use of different adjuvants. The single cell analysis will allow us to interrogate the immunoglobulin repertoire of the ongoing response, identify the specific epitopes targetted by the plasmablasts and define the affinity/avidity ofthe indivdual anfibodies against their antigen. Furthermore we will characterize the funcfional propoerties ofthe isolated antibodies with regards to neutralizafion, breadth of neutralizafion as well as non-neutralizing, antibody mediated cytolyfic mechanisms. Furthermore, particularly interesting monoclonal antibodies, i.e. broadly neutralizing, might also be excellent candidates for future passive transfer experiements in rhesus macaques and also have implicafions for therapy and vaccine design for HIV in humans.
These studies will provide a single cell characterization of ongoing plasmablast responses after SIV vaccinafion or infecfion, both at a systemic and a mucosal level. The development of potent and broadly neutralizing anfibodies isolated through this effort might have implicafions for HIV vaccine design and possibly treatment.
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