Researchers at the University of Osaka developed a simple two-step culture system that turns human blood-derived B cells into germinal center-like B cells using CD40L, IL-4, and IL-21 in a specific sequence. The resulting cells closely resemble genuine human germinal center B cells and undergo somatic hypermutation. The platform provides a practical tool for studying antibody formation directly in human cells and may support future vaccine and autoimmune disease research.

This technology enables the direct rescue of segmented negative-sense RNA viruses from complementary DNA (cDNA) in non-cancerous Vero cells, a cell substrate accepted for human vaccine manufacturing. Using triggered endosome escape technology and T7 polymerase-driven expression systems, the method improves the delivery and expression of viral components needed to generate infectious viruses from cDNA. By replacing traditional tumorigenic BHK cells, the platform offers a safer, more scalable, and potentially more regulatory-friendly approach to developing live-attenuated vaccines. Potential applications include vaccine development for influenza and other segmented RNA viruses, virology research, and rapid-response vaccine platforms. The technology is patent-pending, available for licensing, and currently in an early development stage.