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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Evaluation of Host-Pathogen Responses and Vaccine Efficacy in Mice
Published on: February 22, 2019
B-cell responses to vaccination at the extremes of age
Claire-Anne Siegrist1, Richard Aspinall
1Departments of Pathology-Immunology and Pediatrics, WHO Collaborative Center for Neonatal Vaccinology, Medical Faculty of University of Geneva, Centre Medical Universitaire, Geneva 4, Switzerland. claire-anne.siegrist@unige.ch
Abstract:
Infants and the elderly share a high vulnerability to infections and therefore have specific immunization requirements. Inducing potent and sustained B-cell responses is as challenging in infants as it is in older subjects. Several mechanisms to explain the decreased B-cell responses at the extremes of age apply to both infants and the elderly. These include intrinsic B-cell limitations as well as numerous microenvironmental factors in lymphoid organs and the bone marrow. This Review describes the mechanisms that shape B-cell responses at the extremes of age and how they could be taken into account to design more effective immunization strategies for these high-risk age groups.
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