Adaptive immunity in multiple sclerosis: studying the antigen specificity of autoreactive B cells in MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease involving immune attack by autoreactive T cells and B cells. We have been studying the phenotype, frequency and antigen specificity of these adaptive immune cells in human MS. We have a particular interest in the early phase of the disease, whether this can predict disease progression, and how the immune response changes over time. The project currently available is to study the antigen specificity of autoreactive B cells in MS , both in the peripheral blood and those entering the cerebrospinal fluid. The research group uses a wide range of technologies including cell purification and culture, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, gene microarrays, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry microscopy.

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