B cells, through their ability to produce specific antibodies, are essential to control invading viruses and play a primary role in the adaptive immune defense.
Isolation and analysis of B cells and antibodies from infected or immunized individuals is important to understand the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 and to evaluate the efficacy of new vaccines.
Webinar
SARS-CoV-2–specific B cell detection and therapeutic antibody discovery
At Miltenyi Biotec, we have developed reliable tools and methods for analyzing and enriching rare populations of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells. Tune into this webinar to learn how our products and protocols facilitate COVID-19 research and support the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and other diseases.
Analysis of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells
Screening SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells can support the evaluation of efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and also the prognosis of severe COVID-19 development. The SARS-CoV-2 B Cell Analysis Kit, human offers an easy and ready-to-use solution for detection, quantification, and phenotyping of spike- and RBD-specific B cells circulating in peripheral blood.
Find out more details in our online application protocol: Analysis of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins
Comparison of spike-specific B cell detection in COVID-19 convalescents versus healthy controls after staining with SARS-CoV-2 B Cell Analysis Kit.
Enrichment of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells
Magnetic separation of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells
Positive selection of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells using the SARS-CoV-2 B Cell MicroBead Kit, human facilitates the enrichment of B cells specific for spike proteins or RBD.
The several-fold enriched antigen-specific B cells can be used for:
- expansion in culture
- molecular analysis, such as B cell receptor (BCR) cloning and sequencing
- single clone culture
Find out more details in our online application protocol: Enrichment of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins
B cells from convalescent and healthy individuals stained with spike-tetramer-PE before and after antigen-specific magnetic separation.
Microchip-based sorting of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells
After staining with SARS-CoV-2 B Cell Analysis Kit, human, antigen-specific B cells, recognizing SARS-CoV-2 antigens, can be sorted using the MACSQuant® Tyto® Cell Sorter. These can be then used for further applications, including further expansion in culture, molecular analysis, and single clone culture.
Find out more details in our online application protocol: Microchip-based cell sorting and expansion of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells using the MACSQuant Tyto Cell Sorter
Interview
Sorting of antigen-specific B cells using the MACSQuant Tyto
Read the interview on how the MACSQuant Tyto Cell Sorter is helping a Danish research team to develop a new COVID-19 treatment.
Gating strategy of spike-positive B cells for sorting on the MACSQuant Tyto.
Flow cytometry analysis of sorting procedure.
Expansion of SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells
After enrichment, SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells can be cultured using B Cell Expansion Kit, human.
The combination of CD40L, cross-linking antibody, and IL-4 included in the B Cell Expansion Kit allows you to expand the B cell population by several fold and obtain activated cells with a distribution of memory and plasma cells similar to the original fraction.
After expanding SARS-CoV-2–specific B cells, SARS-CoV-2–specific IgG antibodies can be detected in the supernatant, confirming that the B Cell Expansion Kit, human supports the expansion of fully functional antibody-secreting cells, suitable for applications such as monoclonal antibody discovery and generation.
