Fig. 3: Programming B cell responses by driving germinal center (GC) reaction via potent B cell activation.

a Multivalent antigens cause B cell receptor clustering that initiates signal transduction, which combined with costimulation from cognate T cells, amplifies B cell activation. b Nanocarriers help to unload antigen cargo in lymph nodes, they can be bioengineered for controlled release of antigens; glycosylated antigens activate the mannose-binding lectin complement pathway, that produces C3b, for antigen opsonization, which eventually binds to complement receptors in follicular dendritic cells. These cells display the antigens for recognition by B cells during the process of affinity maturation in the germinal centers.