Korea VirusResearch Institute

Plasma cells are essential for long-term immunity, responsible for producing antibodies that provide protection against reinfection. However, many aspects of plasma cell biology, particularly their longevity, differentiation, and maintenance, remain poorly understood. Our research aims to solve these mysteries by utilizing sophisticated in vivo vaccination and infection models to uncover the molecular and metabolic drivers of plasma cell survival.

To address these immunological puzzles, we focus on three strategic pillars:

• 1) Determining how long-lived plasma cells acquire their longevity.
• 2) Investigating the mechanisms by which certain vaccines fail to induce long-term protection
• 3) Exploring programmed senescence during plasma cell differentiation