title: Alternative antigen processing pathways in anti-infective immunity.
abstract: Proteinaceous and nonproteinaceous antigens from exogenous microorganisms can be processed by the host for MHC class I restricted presentation to T cells. Macrophages, B cells, mast cells and dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells that process such exogenous antigens through multiple pathways before MHC-restricted epitope presentation. New conceptual frameworks are emerging regarding the processing and presentation to T cells of peptide or nonpeptide epitopes from bacteria in the context of conventional MHC class I molecules, nonconventional MHC class I molecules, or CD1 molecules. Animal experiments have demonstrated that these pathways are of central importance for generating protective antibacterial T cell responses. These findings form the basis for new vaccine designs that specifically target MHC class I restricted T cell reactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Ulm, D-89070, Ulm, Germany. jörg.reimann@medizin.uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reimann
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology*; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008211:Lymphocyte Cooperation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D000939:Epitopes; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I