Mots-Clés

Algorithms B cells Bioinformatics Evolution Lineage tree Metrics

Description

Within the immune system, B lymphocytes play a crucial role. As members of the leukocyte family, they are essential to adaptive immunity. Their ability to detect and specifically bind to antigens via their receptors, known as B cell receptors, enables them to trigger a targeted immune response against diseases or infections.

The process of antigen recognition and binding is highly dynamic. When B cell receptors encounter an antigen, they undergo an evolutionary process to increase their affinity, that is, their ability to bind more strongly to the antigen. This enhancement is crucial for ensuring an effective immune response.

Affinity maturation, which includes somatic hypermutation and Darwinian selection, transforms naive B cells into mature B cells that are ready to respond optimally to a specific antigen. This evolution is illustrated by the B cell lineage tree, where each branch represents a specific sequence of the B cell receptor, demonstrating how their affinity for an antigen strengthens over time.

Tracking these lineages, starting from the unmutated sequence of naive B cells, allows for an in-depth study of B cell evolution during affinity maturation. This understanding is essential for fully grasping the functioning of these cells.

The project focuses on three main objectives. First, it aims to develop specific mathematical and algorithmic measures to evaluate the differences between B cell lineage trees. Next, it plans to create comprehensive and user-friendly software that incorporates these measures to facilitate the comparison of lineage trees. Finally, the project seeks to validate these new measures and their application using real and simulated data.