title: Natural killer and CD8 T cells dominate the response by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to inactivated Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain.
abstract: Francisella tularensis is a category A biothreat agent, and as a result, it has recently generated much research interest. F. tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS) is an attenuated form of the virulent F. tularensis organism and has previously been used as a vaccine. However, because of safety concerns, it is no longer approved for this purpose. Thus, the use of inactivated organisms is preferable for vaccine purposes. Although many studies have been performed that examine human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and in particular CD4 T cells, responses to inactivated F. tularensis, there has been no study identifying the individual human cell populations within a mixed PBMC population that respond to this organism. We sought to address this deficit. Our results indicate that natural killer and CD8 T cells comprise the majority of cells responding to F. tularensis LVS. In addition, data suggest CD8 T cell responses are maximal when antibiotic-treated organisms are used and are minimal when formaldehyde-fixed organisms are used. Given the belief that CD8 T cells can play an important role in protection against F. tularensis infection, these studies have direct relevance to the development of F. tularensis vaccines that use inactivated organisms. In addition, important new knowledge is added to our understanding of the human immune response to F. tularensis LVS.
authors.affiliation: Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA. gossele@mail.amc.edu
authors.forename: Edmund J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gosselin
authors.forename: Diane R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gosselin
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lotz
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D005557:Formaldehyde; D007371:Interferon-gamma