Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

5.3K
The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
5.3K
Primary Lymphoid Organs01:16

Primary Lymphoid Organs

9.2K
Primary lymphoid organs are pivotal in the formation, development, and maturation of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that serve as the backbone of our immune system. This crucial function underscores their fundamental role in maintaining our overall health and immunity. The two primary lymphoid organs of prime importance are the red bone marrow and the thymus.
The red bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue nestled in the interior of long bones such as the humerus and femur. It is the site...
9.2K
Secondary Lymphoid Organs01:15

Secondary Lymphoid Organs

5.5K
Secondary organs, including lymph nodes, the spleen, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), work harmoniously to protect us from disease and infection.
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
5.5K
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

8.6K
The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
8.6K
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

74.8K
Overview
74.8K
Lymphoid Cells and Tissues01:18

Lymphoid Cells and Tissues

1.9K
Lymphoid cells and tissues are integral to the immune system, which is crucial in maintaining our body's defense against harmful pathogens. They form the building blocks of lymphoid organs, which include the spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes.
Lymphoid cells consist of various types of immune system cells. These include B and T lymphocytes, which are responsible for producing antibodies and killing infected cells, respectively. Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and adaptive...
1.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Clonal dynamics of germinal center refueling by secondary immunization.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Replaying germinal center evolution on a quantified affinity landscape.

Cell·2026
Same author

One-step generation of T-cell receptor knock-in mice in the TCRβ locus.

The EMBO journal·2026
Same author

Inference of germinal center evolutionary dynamics via simulation-based deep learning.

eLife·2026
Same author

Antibody-mediated feedback modulates interclonal competition in the germinal center.

Immunity·2026
Same author

Predictive modeling of molecular activity underlying physical cell-cell interactions.

Cell reports methods·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Interrogating Individual Autoreactive Germinal Centers by Photoactivation in a Mixed Chimeric Model of Autoimmunity
11:12

Interrogating Individual Autoreactive Germinal Centers by Photoactivation in a Mixed Chimeric Model of Autoimmunity

Published on: April 11, 2019

7.2K

Germinal Centers.

Gabriel D Victora1, Michel C Nussenzweig2

  • 1Laboratory of Lymphocyte Dynamics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA;

Annual Review of Immunology
|February 3, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Germinal centers (GCs) drive B cell antibody maturation through somatic diversification and selection. This review covers GC biology, cell functions, and clonal dynamics shaping antibody diversity for immunity.

Keywords:
B cellTfh cellaffinity maturationantibodycellular dynamicsclonal dynamicsgerminal center

More Related Videos

Highly Resolved Intravital Striped-illumination Microscopy of Germinal Centers
10:07

Highly Resolved Intravital Striped-illumination Microscopy of Germinal Centers

Published on: April 9, 2014

10.2K
Analysis of Somatic Hypermutation in the JH4 intron of Germinal Center B cells from Mouse Peyer's Patches
09:35

Analysis of Somatic Hypermutation in the JH4 intron of Germinal Center B cells from Mouse Peyer's Patches

Published on: April 20, 2021

6.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Interrogating Individual Autoreactive Germinal Centers by Photoactivation in a Mixed Chimeric Model of Autoimmunity
11:12

Interrogating Individual Autoreactive Germinal Centers by Photoactivation in a Mixed Chimeric Model of Autoimmunity

Published on: April 11, 2019

7.2K
Highly Resolved Intravital Striped-illumination Microscopy of Germinal Centers
10:07

Highly Resolved Intravital Striped-illumination Microscopy of Germinal Centers

Published on: April 9, 2014

10.2K
Analysis of Somatic Hypermutation in the JH4 intron of Germinal Center B cells from Mouse Peyer's Patches
09:35

Analysis of Somatic Hypermutation in the JH4 intron of Germinal Center B cells from Mouse Peyer's Patches

Published on: April 20, 2021

6.9K

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Germinal centers (GCs) are crucial microanatomical structures for adaptive immune responses.
  • Within GCs, B cells undergo somatic hypermutation and affinity selection to produce high-affinity antibodies.
  • Effective humoral immunity relies on the generation of high-affinity antibodies via GC reactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in germinal center (GC) biology, particularly concerning GCs induced by infection or immunization.
  • To summarize the phenotype and function of GC cellular components, with an emphasis on GC B cells.
  • To outline the mechanisms of affinity-dependent selection and B cell export from GCs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on GC biology.
  • Analysis of cellular and molecular processes within GCs.
  • Examination of GC clonal dynamics and antibody diversification.

Main Results:

  • GCs facilitate B cell clonal expansion and antibody affinity maturation.
  • Somatic diversification and affinity-driven selection produce high-affinity antibodies.
  • GC clonal dynamics influence the diversity of secreted antibodies.

Conclusions:

  • Recent developments enhance understanding of GC biology and function.
  • Affinity-dependent selection is central to generating effective antibody responses.
  • GC and post-GC selection critically shape serum antibody diversity.