I am interested in the regulation of the primary murine germinal center (GC) response with specific focus on isotype switched GC B cells.

The main focus of my project is to further study the isotype switched population of germinal center (GC) B cells. The maturation patterns of the isotype switched GC B cells and the regulation of their generation and frequency throughout the GC response are poorly understood. The characteristics of the isotype switched population in an individual GC are also not well defined. The goal of this project is to further characterize the isotype switched GC B cell population and to explore the role of regulatory T cells in regulating the GC response, specifically their role in regulating the switched population of GC B cells.

Cozine, C.L., Wolniak, K.L., Waldschmidt, T.J. The primary germinal center response in mice. Curr Opin Immunol. 2005 Jun;17(3):298-302. PMID: 15886120 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]