The Role of NKT
cells in Mucosal Immunity to Francisella tularensis
The purpose of the
project proposed is to determine the role of NKT cells in mucosal immunity
to the intracellular bacterial pathogen, Francisella tularensis. NKT
cells comprise a unique population of lymphocytes that express NK and T
cell receptors. NKT cells exhibit both innate and adaptive immune cell
functions; the specific role of NKT cells in immunity to most bacteria,
however, remains to be determined. F. tularensis can infect the lungs; as
few as 10 organisms can cause fatal disease in humans. The goal of the
project is to: 1) determine the role of NKT cells in host defenses to F.
tularensis in a mouse model of respiratory infection; and 2) delineate the
mechanisms that underlie this role in innate and/or adaptive immunity.
