Humoral Immunity vs. .

Abstract

In primary infection with , it has been reported-without consideration of 's functions-that humoral immunity plays no role in the clearance of bacteria. In fact, targets and suppresses several aspects of humoral immunity, including B cell lymphopoiesis, B cell activation, and IgG production. In particular, the suppression of IgG-secreting plasma cell maintenance allows the persistence of in tissues. Therefore, the critical role(s) of humoral immunity in the response to infection, especially at the late phase, should be re-investigated. The suppression of IgG plasma cell memory strongly hinders vaccine development against non-typhoidal (NTS) because can also reduce humoral immune memory against other bacteria and viruses, obtained from previous vaccination or infection. We propose a new vaccine against that would not impair humoral immunity, and which could also be used as a treatment for antibody-dependent autoimmune diseases to deplete pathogenic long-lived plasma cells, by utilizing the 's own suppression mechanism of humoral immunity.