B-cell receptor repertoire recognizing SARS-CoV-2 antigens (SARS-CoV-2 BCR repertoire)

The B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire recognizing SARS-CoV-2 antigens refers to the diverse collection of membrane-bound immunoglobulins on B lymphocytes that specifically identify and bind to the structural proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including the Spike (S), Membrane (M), and Envelope (E) proteins (Saini et al., 2021). This repertoire is a fundamental component of the adaptive immune system, serving as the biological template for the production of neutralizing antibodies and the establishment of long-term immunological memory (Robbiani et al., 2020). Upon exposure to viral antigens through infection or vaccination, specific B-cell clones within this repertoire undergo activation, proliferation, and somatic hypermutation to increase their affinity for the virus (Nielsen et al., 2020). While the Spike protein is the primary focus for therapeutic development and vaccine design, the repertoire also includes B cells targeting the more conserved M and E proteins, which may play roles in broader immune coordination and viral clearance. This repertoire is not a traditional therapeutic target but is the primary effector system stimulated by vaccines and the source for identifying potent monoclonal antibodies used in COVID-19 therapy (Sahin et al., 2020). Monitoring the diversity and evolution of this repertoire is critical for assessing vaccine efficacy and the potential for immune escape by emerging viral variants.

Other names

SARS-CoV-2 specific B-cell repertoireAnti-SARS-CoV-2 BCR repertoireCOVID-19 B-cell responseSARS-CoV-2 structural protein-specific B cells

Vaccines provide viral antigens that bind to and activate specific B-cell receptors within the repertoire, initiating signal transduction, clonal expansion, and differentiation into antibody-secreting plasma cells and memory B cells (Sahin et al., 2020).