Programm
The intestinal immune system is constantly exposed to a plethora of different dietary and microbial antigens. Innate and adaptive immunity including B cell responses, control our microbiota to establish host-microbial mutualism. Immunoglobulin A is the major antibody isotype at mucosal surfaces, which confers protection against pathogens and constrains our microbiota toward commensal-like behaviour. However, few functional targets of IgA are known to date. Using gnotobiotic wild-type and transgenic mouse models and human samples paired with single B cell receptor repertoire analysis and monoclonal antibody reactivity testing, we define the intestinal IgA response to dietary and microbial antigens. The data provide insight into mechanisms of intestinal B cell clonal selection and may explain how antibodies control a diverse set of intestinal bacteria.
About the speaker
Tim Rollenske is a researcher at the University Hospital Bonn whose work focuses on mucosal immunology and host–microbiota interactions. His research investigates how intestinal B cell responses and IgA antibodies shape microbial communities and contribute to immune homeostasis. By combining gnotobiotic mouse models, human samples, and single-cell immune repertoire analyses, his work provides fundamental insights into how adaptive immunity maintains a beneficial relationship with the intestinal microbiota.