Malaria exposure drives both cognate and bystander human B cells to adopt an atypical phenotype

Atypical memory B cells (aMBCs) are found in elevated numbers in individuals exposed to malaria. A key question is whether malaria induces aMBCs as a result of exposure to Ag, or non-Ag-specific mechanisms. We identified Plasmodium and bystander tetanus toxoid (TT) specific B cells in individuals from areas of previous and persistent exposure to malaria using tetramers. Malaria-specific B cells were more likely to be aMBCs than TT-specific B cells. However, TT-specific B cells from individuals with continuous exposure to malaria were more likely to be aMBCs than TT-specific B cells in individuals from areas where transmission has ceased. Finally, sequences of BCRs specific for a blood stage malaria-Ag were more highly mutated than sequences from TT-specific BCRs and under strong negative selection, indicative of ongoing antigenic pressure. Our data suggest both persistent Ag exposure and the inflammatory environment shape the B-cell response to malaria and bystander Ags.