Batista Lab Unveils Antibody Role in B Cell Diversity

Study finds antibodies themselves act as a "brake" to limit further selection against a particular target, redirecting immune response.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A collaborative study published in Immunity from the Batista Lab and Liu Lab at the Ragon Institute, together with the Schief Lab at Scripps Research Institute, has uncovered a previously unrecognized mechanism that shapes how immune cells are selected during an immune response. The findings reveal that B cells that bind a target most strongly actually spend less time in germinal centers than weaker-binding cells, and that stronger-binding cells actively suppress weaker ones targeting the same site.

Why it matters

The discovery offers new considerations for vaccine design strategies that aim to generate both potent and broad immune responses, as the germinal center's own output acts as a "brake" that limits further selection against a particular target, redirecting the immune response to other targets and promoting antibody diversity.

The details

Using mouse models, the research team found that while B cells of similar strength could coexist without affecting each other, stronger-binding cells actively suppressed weaker ones targeting the same site. "When we started examining this response, it became clear that the effect was highly localized, anatomically," said first author and Batista Lab research scientist Yu Yan, PhD. "We were able to identify cells in and around the germinal centers producing antibodies creating a hyperlocal feedback loop."

  • The collaborative study was published in Immunity on February 14, 2026.

The players

Batista Lab

A research lab at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard that focuses on harnessing the immune system to combat and cure human disease.

Liu Lab

A research lab at the Ragon Institute that collaborates with the Batista Lab on studying the immune system.

Schief Lab

A research lab at the Scripps Research Institute that collaborated with the Batista Lab and Liu Lab on the study.

Yu Yan, PhD

First author and research scientist at the Batista Lab.

Facundo Batista, PhD

Principal investigator and co-corresponding author of the study.

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What they’re saying

“When we started examining this response, it became clear that the effect was highly localized, anatomically. We were able to identify cells in and around the germinal centers producing antibodies creating a hyperlocal feedback loop.”

— Yu Yan, PhD, Research Scientist, Batista Lab (Immunity)

“Antibody binding only needs to be so high for protection. Eventually, you will get diminishing returns. Braking the further development of already effective binders redirects the germinal centers to other targets. Antibodies themselves are thus driving antibody diversity and a broader response.”

— Facundo Batista, PhD, Principal Investigator, Batista Lab (Immunity)

What’s next

The findings offer new considerations for vaccine design strategies that aim to generate both potent and broad immune responses.

The takeaway

This study uncovers a previously unknown mechanism by which antibodies themselves act as a "brake" to limit further selection against a particular target, redirecting the immune response to promote broader antibody diversity - a discovery that could inform the development of more effective vaccines.