# Mechanisms of B cell responses to particulate antigens

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $689,809

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Mechanisms of B cell responses to particulate antigens
Two biophysical attributes shared by most animal viruses are the display of viral-specific proteins at certain
densities on the surface of individual virions and the encapsulation of viral genome inside the virion. A threshold
density of viral surface proteins is important to ensure efficient viral infection of host cells. From the perspective
of the host, a threshold density of viral surface proteins may also be critical for the recognition by germline B
cells for efficient mounting of humoral responses. The encapsulated genetic material may also stimulate B cells
through the Toll-like receptors. Substantial mechanistic studies at the single-molecule level and imaging of live
cells have revealed the sensitivity of B cells to the density of antigens. However, at the mechanistic level, it
remains largely uncharacterized how B cells may recognize and respond to the individual as well as collective
attributes of a virus, including the spatial density of proteins and the internal nucleic acids. This project aims to
unravel the cellular and molecular mechanisms of B cell responses to viral features both in vivo and in vitro,
using a new generation of model particulate antigens that we have recently developed. The success of this
project will yield new and important mechanistic information on how B cells recognize particulate antigens similar
to viruses, and reveal the functional outcomes of B cells in response to the recognition of the biophysical features
of these antigens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10437883
- **Project number:** 5R01AI155653-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Wei Cheng
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $689,809
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10437883

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10437883, Mechanisms of B cell responses to particulate antigens (5R01AI155653-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10437883. Licensed CC0.

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