title: Human cytolytic T cell recognition of Yersinia pestis virulence proteins that target innate immune responses.
abstract: Cell contact by the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis initiates the injection of several virulence factors that target biochemical pathways critical for host clearance of bacteria. Despite this impairment of innate immunity, it is unclear whether antigen recognition by T cells is equally affected. We present evidence that human cytolytic T cells respond to Y. pestis virulence proteins presented by infected monocytes and dendritic cells. These T cell antigens consisted of a panel of proteins encoded by pCD1, a 70-kDa plasmid that harbors virulence factors and transport proteins of the cell contact-dependent, type III secretion system. Infected cells retained the ability to process and present tetanus toxoid to T cells, which indicates that responses to unrelated antigens were also maintained. Our results indicate that T cell immunity remains functional during Y. pestis infection, which thus suggests the potential benefits of therapeutic vaccination and strategies that emphasize the inclusion of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD, 21701, USA. kamal.saikh@det.amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: Kamal U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Saikh
authors.forename: Teri L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kissner
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dyas
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tropea
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Waugh
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ulrich
mesh_terms: D017951:Antigen Presentation; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D010930:Plague / Q000276:immunology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000276:immunology; D015010:Yersinia pestis
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C414207:PCD1 protein, human; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014157:Transcription Factors; D037521:Virulence Factors