About the Workshop
Classically, B cell function is most intimately linked to pathogen clearance via antibody production by memory B cells and terminally differentiated plasma cells. However, there is a growing appreciation that B cells also exert powerful anti-inflammatory/regulatory effects on the immune system. Furthermore, it has become increasingly clear that these various fate decisions and functions are greatly influenced by the developmental stage and the signals encountered (both endogenous and exogenous) within the tissue microenvironment of the B cell.
This EMBO Workshop will showcase the latest findings and conceptual advancements in B cell biology, with a particular focus on 1) understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern B cell phenotypes and functions; 2) how micro environmental challenges, such as those poised by microorganism residents in differential mucosal organs, influence B cell development and responses. Since pathogenic B cells contribute to diseases ranging from autoimmunity to cancer, further elucidation of these molecular pathways, how they are may change in response to environmental signals, could be important for the development of novel therapeutic targets.
About EMBO Courses and Workshops
EMBO Courses and Workshops are selected for their excellent scientific quality and timelines, provision of good networking activities for all participants and speaker gender diversity (at least 40% of speakers must be from the underrepresented gender).
Organisers are encouraged to implement measures to make the meeting environmentally more sustainable.
