Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026

A Mouse Model to Assess Innate Immune Response to Staphylococcus aureus Infection
Published on: February 28, 2019
Microbe-responsive human γδ T cells: the peculiar case of Staphylococcus aureus
Matthias Eberl1,2, Manuel Mata Forsberg3, James E McLaren1,2
1Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Abstract:
Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells represent the largest γδ T-cell population in human blood and possess a unique responsiveness towards microbial organisms by sensing the metabolite (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMB-PP) in the context of the butyrophilin family members BTN2A1 and BTN3A1. Curiously, the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus does not produce HMB-PP but appears to be capable of inducing activation, cytokine expression and proliferation of Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells regardless, through a largely unknown mechanism. We here provide a comprehensive review of the existing literature around Vγ9/Vδ2 T-cell responses to S. aureus and discuss potential pathways, ligands and biological functions.
Related Concept Videos
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

