Cited by 695Poxvirus research and outbreaksT-cell and B-cell ImmunologyImmune responses and vaccinations

Cutting edge: long-term B cell memory in humans after smallpox vaccination

Crotty, Shane, Felgner, Phil, Davies, Huw, Glidewell, John, Villarreal, Luis, Ahmed, Rafi·2003·The Journal of Immunology

Abstract

Memory B cells are a central component of humoral immunity, and yet little is known about their longevity in humans. Immune memory after smallpox vaccination (DryVax) is a valuable benchmark for understanding the longevity of B cell memory in the absence of re-exposure to Ag. In this study, we demonstrate that smallpox vaccine-specific memory B cells last for >50 years in immunized individuals. Virus-specific memory B cells initially declined postimmunization, but then reached a plateau ∼10-fold lower than peak and were stably maintained for >50 years after vaccination at a frequency of ∼0.1% of total circulating IgG+ B cells. These persisting memory B cells were functional and able to mount a robust anamnestic Ab response upon revaccination. Additionally, virus-specific CD4+ T cells were detected decades after vaccination. These data show that immunological memory to DryVax vaccine is long-lived and may contribute to protection against smallpox.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.4049/jimmunol.171.10.4969

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23 of 23 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Smallpox- and yellow fever virus-specific CD8+ T cells persist for several decades after vaccination.

    “Small pox- and yellow fever virus-specific CD8+ T cells persist for several decades after vaccination”

    From Successful and Maladaptive T Cell Aging (2017) · cites this paper as Crotty et al., 2003

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Authors
Crotty, S., Felgner, P., Davies, H., Glidewell, J., Villarreal, L., & Ahmed, R.
Affiliations
  • Emory University (US)
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
  • King's College London (GB)
Venue
The Journal of Immunology
Published
2003-11
Volume
171
Issue
10
Pages
4969-4973
ISSN
  • 0022-1767 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-6606
OpenAlex
W1538962595
Cited by
695
References
23
Citations by year
2026: 27 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 35 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 33
FWCI
8.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Immunology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Virology › Poxvirus research and outbreaks
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune responses and vaccinations
Keywords
memory B cells, smallpox vaccination, Dryvax, long-term immune memory, humoral immunity, secondary immune response, revaccination, CD4+ T cells
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Antibodies, Viral, Cell Survival, Cells, Cultured, Child, Female, Humans, Immunization Schedule, Immunologic Memory, Male, Middle Aged, Smallpox Vaccine, Vaccines, Attenuated, Vaccinia virus, B-Lymphocyte Subsets

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