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Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Albert J. R. Heck, Utrecht University, Netherlands
- Second opponent: Reader Louisa James, University of London, UK
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Researcher Diana Domanska, University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Associate Professor Johanne Tracey Jacobsen, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Professor Victor Greiff, University of Oslo
Summary
B-cell receptors and antibodies are essential elements of the adaptive immune system, pivotal in pathogen recognition and neutralization, and widely utilized in diagnostics and therapeutic development. Their broad diversity, generated through various processes during immune cell development, demands effective profiling and characterization. High-throughput sequencing has emerged as a leading technique to capture B-cell receptor diversity, with single-cell sequencing further enhancing resolution and context for understanding immune responses. Despite the potential of these technologies, challenges such as undersampling and data preprocessing persist. Concurrently, mass spectrometry offers a unique lens to explore the effector antibody repertoire, complementing sequencing yet remains underutilized with uncertainties surrounding its analytical performance in antibody samples.
In this thesis, Khang Le Quy focused on evaluating sequencing methodologies, particularly single-cell sequencing, delineating its capabilities and limitations. A novel integration of antibody bottom-up mass spectrometry data with sequencing datasets is introduced, presenting a complementary approach that broadens analytical scope in immune repertoire studies. Large-scale benchmarking of bottom-up mass spectrometry using ground-truth data is conducted, delivering insights into performance and future recommendations. Applying these methodologies, the thesis examines immune imprinting phenomena via sequential influenza infections, shedding light on how prior exposures influence immune responses.
Collectively, this work highlights the transformative impact of merging advanced sequencing and mass spectrometry techniques on immunological research. paving the way for advancing the precision and scope of immune system analysis necessary for future biomedical breakthroughs.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.