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Veterinary immunology and immunopathology2011; 141(3-4); 312-316; doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.03.015

Early development of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in neonatal foals following oral inoculation with Rhodococcus equi.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is an important respiratory pathogen of young foals for which a vaccine has long been sought. Two major impediments to effective vaccination are the functionally immature type I immune responses of neonatal foals and early exposure to the bacterium via the environment. Despite these obstacles, it appears that under specific circumstances foals can develop a protective immune response. In this study we investigated the protective mechanisms behind oral inoculation of foals with virulent R. equi bacteria. Two foals receiving an oral inoculum demonstrated accelerated development of R. equi specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) as evidenced by significant lysis of R. equi infected, ELA-A mismatched cells at 3 weeks of age. As in a previous study, CTL were not detected until 5-6 weeks of age in two control foals. At each time point the ability of foal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to produce IFN-γ following stimulation with live R. equi or extracted cell wall lipids was similar to that of an adult horse control and between foals, regardless of treatment. These results provide a potential mechanism of protection which has previously been shown to occur following oral inoculation, and suggest that the early detection of CTL may be a useful marker for induction of protective immunity.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2011-03-21 PubMed ID: 21481947PubMed Central: PMC3345954DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.03.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article focuses on investigation and observation of an accelerated immune response in newborn foals when orally inoculated with virulent R. equi bacteria. The study tracked the development of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and results suggest that the early detection of these cells may be indicative of a protective immune response.

Research Purpose and Challenges

  • The research is centered around Rhodococcus equi, a prominent respiratory pathogen in young foals and the attempts to create a vaccine against it. The pathogen is typically acquired through early environmental exposure.
  • There are two main issues with vaccinating foals against R. equi. Firstly, newborn foals do not exhibit strong Type I immune responses. Secondly, foals are often exposed to the bacterium early in their lives via their surroundings.
  • In spite of these issues, the researchers noticed that under certain conditions, foals can build a protective immune response.

Research Methodology

  • The study involved orally administering a dose of R. equi bacteria to two foals. The researchers then monitored the development of R. equi-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) – immune cells that directly kill target cells infected by the bacteria.
  • Two foals which received the bacteria showed an earlier development of CTLs, showing substantial lysis (or killing) of R. equi-infected cells at three weeks of age. In comparison, a previous study noted cytotoxic T lymphocytes were usually not detected until 5-6 weeks in control foals that didn’t receive the oral inoculant.

Results and Inferences

  • Meanwhile, the production of an immunoregulatory protein called IFN-γ by the foals’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), when stimulated with live R. equi or cell wall lipids extracted from it, was as responsive as that of an adult horse and consistent amongst treated and untreated foals.
  • The findings from this experiment suggest that R. equi oral inoculation may be fostering a quicker immune response, highlighted by the early surge of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
  • More than just a defensive mechanism, the early appearance of CTLs might be a good sign of the initiation of protective immunity.

Cite This Article

APA
Harris SP, Hines MT, Mealey RH, Alperin DC, Hines SA. (2011). Early development of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in neonatal foals following oral inoculation with Rhodococcus equi. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 141(3-4), 312-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.03.015

Publication

Veterinary immunology and immunopathology
ISSN: 1873-2534
NlmUniqueID: 8002006
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 141
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 312-316

Researcher Affiliations

Harris, Seth P
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, PO Box 647040, Pullman, WA 99164-7040, USA.
Hines, Melissa T
    Mealey, Robert H
      Alperin, Debra C
        Hines, Stephen A

          MeSH Terms

          • Actinomycetales Infections / immunology
          • Actinomycetales Infections / microbiology
          • Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
          • Aging
          • Animals
          • Animals, Newborn
          • Disease Susceptibility
          • Horse Diseases / immunology
          • Horse Diseases / microbiology
          • Horses
          • Rhodococcus equi
          • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / physiology

          Grant Funding

          • T32 AI007025 / NIAID NIH HHS
          • T32 AI007025-24 / NIAID NIH HHS

          Conflict of Interest Statement

          There are no conflicts of interest.

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 7 times.
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