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- Title
Immune Control in Repeated Babesia microti Infection in a Patient With B-Cell Deficiency.
- Authors
Little, Jessica S; Oakley, Miranda S; Thorner, Anna R; Johnston, Demerise; Majam, Victoria; Liakos, Alexis D; Novack, Lewis A; Zheng, Hong; Meredith, Scott; Chou, Chao-Kai; Newton, Benjamin R; Soiffer, Robert J; Krause, Peter J; Baden, Lindsey R; Kumar, Sanjai
- Abstract
The immunology of human babesiosis is poorly investigated. We present a comprehensive investigation of a 75-year-old man with B-cell deficiency who experienced 3 episodes of babesiosis over a 6-year period. Slowly evolving clinical immunity was observed, as evidenced by milder clinical symptoms and lower peak parasite burden after each subsequent babesiosis episode. The patient exhibited several striking immunologic findings. First, the patient had exceptionally high Babesia microti –specific antibodies despite very few circulating B cells, which predominantly coexpressed CD27 (memory marker) and CD95 (death receptor). Second, we demonstrated the presence of long-lasting NK cells and expansion of T memory stem cells. Third, levels of the IP-10 cytokine directly correlated with parasite burden. These results raise fundamental questions on the priming, maintenance, and location of a B-cell population that produces high antibody levels in the face of severe B-cell deficiency. Our results should invoke interest among researchers to study the immunology and pathogenesis of human babesiosis.
- Subjects
IMMUNOLOGIC memory; BABESIA; KILLER cells; B cells; DEATH receptors
- Publication
Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2024, Vol 11, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2328-8957
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/ofid/ofad568