The systemic immune state of super-shedder mice is characterized by a unique neutrophil-dependent blunting of TH1 responses.

ABSTRACT: Host-to-host transmission of a pathogen ensures its successful propagation and maintenance within a host population. A striking feature of disease transmission is the heterogeneity in host infectiousness. It has been proposed that within a host population, 20% of the infected hosts, termed super-shedders, are responsible for 80% of disease transmission. However, very little is known about the immune state of these super-shedders. In this study, we used the model organism Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, an important cause of disease in humans and animal hosts, to study the immune state of super-shedders. Compared to moderate shedders, super-shedder mice had an active inflammatory response in both the gastrointestinal tract and the spleen but a dampened T(H)1 response specific to th

SUBMITTER: Gopinath S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3675027 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature