This invention provides antibodies or antigen-binding fragments that recognizethe B CellMaturation Antigen (BCMA), compositions thereof, as well as hybridomas thatproduce theantibodies or fragments. The invention further provides uses of the antibodiesor fragments fordepleting plasma cells which express BCMA, for reducing the level ofautoantibodies in asubject that expresses BCMA, and for treating B cell-related disordersassociated with BCMAexpression.