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Memory T cells protect chicks from acute infectious bronchitis virus infection
Jianwu Pei1, W Elwood Briles, Ellen W Collisson
1Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4467, USA.
Virology
|March 19, 2003
Summary
Memory CD8(+) T cells generated 3-6 weeks post-infection (p.i.) protect chickens from infectious bronchitis (IBV). T cells from 2 weeks p.i. did not protect, indicating memory T cell development is crucial for IBV control.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Veterinary Virology
- Poultry Health
Background:
- Infectious bronchitis (IBV) is a persistent and challenging poultry disease since 1931.
- Previous research identified CD8(+) T lymphocytes at 10 days post-infection (p.i.) as key in acute IBV control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protective role of memory T cells against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV).
- To determine the optimal timing for generating protective memory T cells.
Main Methods:
- T lymphocytes were collected from chicken spleens at 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks p.i.
- These T cells were transferred to naive chicks challenged with IBV.
- Apoptosis and antibody production were assessed; T cell subtypes were depleted.
Main Results:
- Memory T cells transferred from 3 to 6 weeks p.i. conferred dose-dependent protection against clinical illness.
- T cells from 6 weeks p.i. provided the greatest protection; cells from 2 weeks p.i. did not.
- CD8(+) T cells were critical for protection, while CD4(+) T cells were not; antibody production did not correlate with protection.
Conclusions:
- IBV-specific CD8(+) memory T cells generated 3-6 weeks p.i. are essential for protecting against acute infection.
- These findings highlight the importance of adaptive immune memory in controlling infectious bronchitis virus.