Adaptive immunity in melioidosis: a possible role for T cells in determining outcome of infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei

Melioidosis is a potentially fatal disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Individuals with subclinical melioidosis have no apparent clinical signs or symptoms, and are identified only by positive serology. The present study is the first to investigate cell-mediated immune (CMI) r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2004-10, Vol.113 (1), p.22-28
Main Authors: Barnes, J.L., Warner, J., Melrose, W., Durrheim, D., Speare, R., Reeder, J.C., Ketheesan, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Burkholderia pseudomallei
Burkholderia pseudomallei - immunology
Cell Division - immunology
Cell-mediated immunity
Child
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
Humans
Immunity, Cellular
Immunopathology
Interferon-gamma - metabolism
Male
Medical sciences
Melioidosis
Melioidosis - immunology
Melioidosis - mortality
Middle Aged
Papua New Guinea
Serology
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - metabolism
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Summary:Melioidosis is a potentially fatal disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. Individuals with subclinical melioidosis have no apparent clinical signs or symptoms, and are identified only by positive serology. The present study is the first to investigate cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses following in vitro stimulation with B. pseudomallei antigens in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), collected under field conditions in Papua New Guinea (PNG) from individuals with exposure to B. pseudomallei (n = 13). While five had a clinical history of melioidosis (C+), the remaining individuals (n = 8) were seropositive, yet healthy with no clinical history of melioidosis (S+/C−). Proliferation and IFN-γ production were significantly greater in lymphocyte cultures from S+/C− individuals compared to C+ individuals (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). These findings demonstrate that compared to C+ patients, individuals with subclinical melioidosis have a stronger CMI response to B. pseudomallei antigens in vitro. Such a response may be essential for protection against disease progression.
ISSN:1521-6616
1521-7035
DOI:10.1016/j.clim.2004.06.006