title: Role of Innate T Cells in Anti-Bacterial Immunity.
abstract: Innate T cells are a heterogeneous group of αβ and γδ T cells that respond rapidly (<2 h) upon activation. These innate T cells also share a non MHC class I or II restriction requirement for antigen recognition. Three major populations within the innate T cell group are recognized, namely, invariant NKT cells, mucosal associated invariant T cells, and gamma delta T cells. These cells recognize foreign/self-lipid presented by non-classical MHC molecules, such as CD1d, MR1, and CD1a. They are activated during the early stages of bacterial infection and act as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune systems. In this review, we focus on the functional properties of these three innate T cell populations and how they are purposed for antimicrobial defense. Furthermore, we address the mechanisms through which their effector functions are targeted for bacterial control and compare this in human and murine systems. Lastly, we speculate on future roles of these cell types in therapeutic settings such as vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton and NIHR Cancer Research UK Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre , Southampton , UK.
authors.forename: Yifang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton and NIHR Cancer Research UK Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre , Southampton , UK ; Wessex Investigational Sciences Hub (WISH) Laboratory, Department of Allergy, Asthma and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust , Southampton , UK.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Williams
keywords: MAIT cells; bacterial infections; gamma delta T cells; iNKT cells; innate T cells