Human cytolytic T cell recognition of Yersinia pestis virulence proteins that target innate immune responses

Cell contact by the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis initiates the injection of several virulence factors that target biochemical pathways critical for host clearance of bacteria. Despite this impairment of innate immunity, it is unclear whether antigen recognition by T cells is equally affected. We present evidence that human cytolytic T cells respond to Y. pestis virulence proteins presented by infected monocytes and dendritic cells. These T cell antigens consisted of a panel of proteins encoded by pCD1, a 70-kDa plasmid that harbors virulence factors and transport proteins of the cell contact-dependent, type III secretion system. Infected cells retained the ability to process and present tetanus toxoid to T cells, which indicates that responses to unrelated antigens were also maintained. Our results indicate that T cell immunity remains functional during Y. pestis infection, which thus suggests the potential benefits of therapeutic vaccination and strategies that emphasize the inclusion of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses.