Characterization of rotavirus specific B cells and their relation with serological memory

We quantified circulating total, rotavirus (RV) and Tetanus toxin (TT) memory B cells (mBc) in healthy adults using a limiting dilution assay (LDA) and a flow cytometry assay (FCA) that permit evaluation of both CD27+ and CD27− mBc.RV mBc were enriched in the CD27−, IgG+ and in the CD27+, IgM+ subsets. The numbers of RV mBc were higher by FCA than by LDA and results of the two assays did not correlate. TT IgGmBc and RV IgA mBc determined by FCA and by LDA correlated with TT plasma IgG and RV plasma IgA, respectively. The mean ratio of specific mBc/μg/ml of the corresponding plasma immunoglobulin was lower for TT IgG than for RV IgA mBc.Our studies contribute to understand the relationship between circulating mBc and serological memory, and enhance our capacity to develop better correlates of protection against RV disease.