🧬 Immunology ePortfolio

Aayushi Tailor · Biomedical Science · June 2026
⏳ Final · Completion








💊 Tafasitamab (Monjuvi®) — mAb Profile

Drug Overview

Generic: Tafasitamab-cxiv · Brand: Monjuvi®
Developer: MorphoSys & Incyte · FDA approval: July 2020 (DLBCL), June 2025 (FL)

📋 Indications

Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL
most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma; used when ASCT not eligible.

Relapsed/Refractory Follicular Lymphoma
indolent B-cell lymphoma, after prior therapy failure.

💉 Dosage & Admin

IV infusion · 12 mg/kg actual body weight
28‑d cycles: Cycle1 (D1,4,8,15,22); C2‑3 (D1,8,15,22); C4+ (D1,15)

premed acetaminophen, antihistamines, corticosteroids 30‑120 min prior.

⚕️ Side Effects

Common

  • Neutropenia
  • Fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Diarrhea
  • Cough
  • Fever
  • Peripheral edema
Serious

  • Severe infusion reactions
  • Myelosuppression (infection/bleeding risk)
  • Infections

🧬 Antibody Class & Structure

Humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody. IgG1 → long half‑life (~3 weeks), strong immune recruitment.

  • Fab (variable tips): recognizes CD19 antigen.
  • Fc (stem): interacts with NK cells, complement → triggers cell death.

🎯 Mechanism of Action — CD19 targeting

Binds CD19 on B‑cells (normal & malignant), not on other tissues.

🧬 Cancer B-cell
(CD19+)

⟷

🔗 Tafasitamab
(anti-CD19 mAb)

→

🎯 Antibody‑antigen
complex

⬇️ Immune effector mechanisms ⬇️
ADCC
NK cells release cytotoxic granules
ADCP
Macrophages engulf & digest
Direct
Apoptosis signaling

💀 CANCER CELL DEATH
via ADCC · ADCP · direct cytotoxicity
  • ADCC: Antibody‑dependent cell‑mediated cytotoxicity (NK cells).
  • ADCP: Antibody‑dependent cellular phagocytosis (macrophages).
  • Direct cytotoxicity: Apoptotic signals triggered by CD19 engagement.

References
Salles, G. et al. (2020). Tafasitamab + lenalidomide in R/R DLBCL (L‑MIND). Lancet Oncol 21(7):978‑988.
NIH (2018). mAb structure. Pharmaceutics 10(3):83.
Danaher Life Sciences (2026). mAbs: mechanisms & applications.



🦠 COVID‑19 Vaccine & T‑cell Immunity

Summary of Wherry & Barouch (2022), Science
while neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are important, T cells provide durable protection against severe disease and variants.

🧩 How T cells provide protection

💉 Vaccine
→
🧬 Antigen presentation
(MHC I/II)
→
🛡️ CD8+ CTL
+
🧫 CD4+ Th
→
✅ Kill infected cells
➕ Cytokines
CD8+ Cytotoxic T lymphocytes – kill infected cells
CD4+ Helper T cells – support B cells & CD8+

📉 Antibody limitations

  • NAb titers decline within months
  • Variants (Omicron) evade NAb recognition

💪 T‑cell advantages

  • >80% T‑cell epitopes conserved across variants
  • Detect infected cells (not just spike RBD)
  • Prevent severe illness

🔬 Evidence

  • Cancer patients with B‑cell defects still protected via CD8+ T cells
  • Macaque studies: CD8+ depletion removes vaccine protection
  • South Africa Omicron wave: T cells major protective role

🧭 Implications for future vaccines

  • Broaden efficacy assessment beyond antibody titers
  • Include conserved proteins (e.g., nucleocapsid) to expand T‑cell epitopes
  • Enhance mucosal T‑cell immunity

References
Wherry, E.J. & Barouch, D.H. (2022). T cell immunity to COVID-19 vaccines. Science 377(6608):821‑822.
Piano Mortari, E. et al. (2025). T and B cell responses in COVID-19. Front Immunol 16:1535014.



📝 End‑of‑Term Reflection

Connecting immunology to my biomedical science journey

One of the most valuable connections I made in this course was understanding how monoclonal antibodies like Tafasitamab leverage the body’s own immune mechanisms to fight cancer. I had previously studied cancer biology from the perspective of cellular mutations and uncontrolled division, but this course showed me the therapeutic power of immunology—specifically how ADCC and ADCP can be harnessed as precision tools. This directly connects to my biomedical science coursework in pharmacology and oncology, where we discuss targeted therapies, but rarely delve into the immunological mechanisms that make them effective. Learning about Tafasitamab’s mechanism of action gave me a concrete example of how antibody engineering translates from bench to bedside, and it reinforced why immunology is foundational to so many emerging cancer treatments. Additionally, the COVID-19 vaccine paper on T cell immunity connected to my virology coursework, showing that sterilizing immunity (antibodies) and disease protection (T cells) are distinct but complementary concepts. This holistic understanding of immune responses has fundamentally changed how I evaluate vaccines and immunotherapies, making me a more critical and informed biomedical science student. Moving forward, I feel better prepared to engage with clinical research and appreciate the immunological rationale behind treatment protocols.

Also reflected in BIOL 302 reflections: CAR‑T therapy and vaccine mandate discussions further solidified my understanding of immune application in public health and oncology.



📌 Mid‑Term Self‑Evaluation

🧩 Concepts still unclear

Alternative complement pathway (initiation/regulation), C3 convertase as convergent point, MAC nomenclature & function.

📚 Achieve assignments

Moderately helpful for general foundation, but sometimes not aligned with exam details (acronyms, specific proteases).

💪 Strengths

Innate immune cells, TLRs/PRRs, opsonins (CRP), cytokine families. Enjoyed pathogen evasion (e.g., M. tuberculosis blocking phagosome‑lysosome fusion).

📈 Areas to improve

Complement pathways, NF‑κB signaling, MHC recognition. Alternative pathway most difficult — properdin, C3 convertase regulation.

🧠 New study habits

Active recall & diagram drawing (complement, NF‑κB). Redrawing from memory and explaining out loud.

📊 Exam prep & lost points

  • Prep time: ~6‑8 h per exam
  • Lost points: lack of understanding (35%), remembering structures (20%), applying definitions (15%)
  • Will do: more pathway diagrams, self‑quizzing, strategic online resources.

📝 ePortfolio mAb assignment

Enjoyed researching Tafasitamab; connected to real‑world cancer treatment. Grade fair, first draft had informal language — will improve.



💉 Should childhood vaccinations be mandated?

Position: Mandatory for children in public/private schools, with legal consequences (school access restrictions rather than prosecution).

  • Vaccines protect individuals and build herd immunity for immunocompromised/allergic individuals.
  • Diseases like measles, polio, diphtheria have been drastically reduced.
  • Parental responsibility must consider community safety.
  • Medical exceptions should be supported; information campaigns are essential.

CDC (2025). Vaccines and Immunizations. WHO (2024). Immunization Agenda 2030.



🧫 CAR T‑cell therapy

What: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T‑cell therapy — immunotherapy using patient’s own T cells to kill cancer.

  • Where: Specialized hospital / cancer center.
  • How: Leukapheresis → genetic engineering to express CAR → expansion → infusion after chemotherapy.
  • Whom: B‑cell ALL, DLBCL, mantle cell lymphoma, multiple myeloma.
  • When: First FDA approvals in 2017; ongoing research for solid tumors.
  • Adverse effects: cytokine release syndrome, neurologic issues.

FDA approvals 2017; ongoing clinical trials.

🔗 Connection to immunology course: CAR‑T directly applies T‑cell biology, MHC‑independent recognition, and effector functions — a prime example of translational immunology.

BIOL 302 · Immunology · ePortfolio · Aayushi Tailor · June 2026

All content original, references cited. Published for course completion