The Merkenschlager Laboratory is dedicated to unraveling the intricate mechanisms how antibodies are naturally generated in the body.​ Antibodies, produced by B cells, play a central role in defending the body by recognizing and neutralizing foreign invaders such as viruses. Once secreted these antibodies can seek out and disable threats before they can cause illness. In this way, antibodies are the body’s natural line of defense.​However, producing highly effective, protective antibodies takes time. B cells must undergo a process of genetic refinement, editing and then selecting for good edits versus the bad or silent ones, to ultimately enhance the ability of their antibodies to recognize and bind the target.This evolutionary process, known as antibody maturation, is evolution on fast forward (i.e take weeks not years).  

This whole process unfolds within specialized structures called germinal centers, cellular ecosystems that, under the microscope, almost resemble galaxies. Within these constellations, B cells compete and test their antibodies, searching for improved versions that bind more tightly to the target. Our laboratory is interested in understanding how the B cell collaborate and compete within these germinal centers to make antibodies that confer the best immune protections.​While B cells have long been seen as the main protagonists of the germinal center, they do not act alone. A second key player—a specialized type of T cell known as the T follicular helper (TFH) cell—plays a critical supporting role. These cells guide B cells through the maturation process, helping them make pivotal decisions about survival, proliferation, and antibody refinement. If B cells are the musicians, TFH cells are the conductor, whose carefully orchestrate the immune response with precision and harmony. At the Merkenschlager Laboratory, our team is committed and passionate about deciphering the efficiency and specificity of immune protection, ultimately striving to make a positive impact on global health.