The Role of B Lymphocytes and Their Products in Trypanosomatidae Infections

Dear Colleagues,

B lymphocytes are major players in the immune system. They are involved in its homeostasis, providing crucial signals for T-cell functional differentiation, activities, and maintenance. B cells also contribute to the immune system's effector functions by secreting antibodies of different classes after differentiation into plasma cells within specialized lymphoid structures called germinal centers, thereby generating short- and long-lived memory cells. In addition, they also regulate the development of tertiary lymphoid structures within tumor microenvironments. Their role during infections has been extensively studied. However, information on their role as effectors and regulatory cells during trypanosomatid infections remains scarce. We still do not understand the reasons for poor B-cell memory formation during these infections, nor the full spectrum of B-cell functional activities in the acute and chronic phases of diseases caused by trypanomatids. We also have very little information on the molecular profiles of B-cell clonal activation, expansion, and the resulting memory B-cell pool, as well as on the presence of somatic mutations in the variable regions of antibodies specific to these parasites, in both mice and humans. Additionally, we lack sufficient data on a more defined molecular profile of B-cell lineages among these infections. The lack of refined information on different aspects of B cells during these infections has hampered the development of vaccines and the understanding of the pathophysiology of the conditions caused by these parasites in mammals. Therefore, the objective of this forum is to provide authors with the opportunity to discuss the points above, either theoretically or with new data that may support previous or entirely new hypotheses in this particular field, and to bridge basic and translational research whenever possible. Authors are also invited to publicly and generously discuss one another’s ideas or data in a separate paper to identify potential improvements and explore complementary joint projects, thereby allowing us to raise and solve important questions in the coming years.

Dr. Jose Mengel
Guest Editor

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