Identification of an antigen-specific B cell population

The difficulty in characterizing antigen-specific B cells that arise in the native B cell repertoire has been a formidable obstacle to understanding both protective and pathogenic antibody responses.' We have developed a tetramer-based technique for identifying antigen-specific B cells. Biotin-labeled antigen is made tetramdric by interaction with streptavidin. The enhanced avidity of this antigenic compound for the B cell membrane permits the visualization, characterization and isolation of antigen-specific B cells. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.