C. difficile-specific memory B cell sequencing

One in five individuals infected with C. difficile experience a recurrent infection. The human immune system is typically programmed to develop a 'memory' response to infections it encounters. This allows for rapid immune responses upon a repeat infection. However, the high rate of recurrence with C. difficile infections suggests a defect in the 'memory' response of the immune system. We therefore isolated C. difficile toxin-specific memory B cells from individuals with a previous history of infection and sequenced their receptors. Analyzing the memory response at a genetic level will provide further information on the quality of the memory response.