Recognition of conserved antigens by Th17 cells provides broad protection against pulmonary Haemophilus influenzae infection.

ABSTRACT: Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a major cause of community acquired pneumonia and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A current effort in NTHi vaccine development has focused on generating humoral responses and has been greatly impeded by antigenic variation among the numerous circulating NTHi strains. In this study, we showed that pulmonary immunization of mice with killed NTHi generated broad protection against lung infection by different strains. While passive transfer of immune antibodies protected only against the homologous strain, transfer of immune T cells conferred protection against both homologous and heterologous strains. Further characterization revealed a strong Th17 response that was cross-reactive with different NTHi strains. Respondin

SUBMITTER: Li W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6065041 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature