B cell intrinsic expression of IFNλ receptor suppresses the acute humoral immune response to experimental blood-stage malaria

Antibodies play a critical protective role in the host response to blood-stage malaria infection. The role of cytokines in shaping the antibody response to blood-stage malaria is unclear. Interferon lambda (IFNλ), a type III interferon, is a cytokine produced early during blood-stage malaria infection that has an unknown physiological role during malaria infection. We demonstrate that B cell-intrinsic IFNλ signals suppress the acute antibody response, acute plasmablast response, and impede acute parasite clearance during a primary blood-stage malaria infection. Our findings demonstrate a previously unappreciated role for B cell intrinsic IFNλ-signaling in the initiation of the humoral immune response in the host response to experimental malaria.