Fig. 1

Plasma cells expansion in septic patients. Percentages of plasma cells (CD19^low FS^high cells—see Additional file 1: methods for gating strategy) among total CD19⁺ B lymphocytes were assessed by flow cytometry on peripheral whole blood in healthy volunteers (HV, n = 9) and septic patients (n = 9) sampled at day 1 or 2 (D1–2, n = 6), day 3 or 4 (D3–4, n = 8) and day 6, 7 or 8 (D6–8, n = 4) after the onset of septic shock. Data are represented as Tukey box-plots and individual values. **p < 0.005 compared to healthy volunteers. Non-parametric ANOVA test followed by post-hoc analysis with Dunn’s multiple comparisons tests