Critical role of type 1 cytokines in controlling initial infection with Burkholderia mallei

Abstract

Burkholderia mallei is a gram-negative bacterium which causes the potentially fatal disease glanders in humans; however, there is little information concerning cell-mediated immunity to this pathogen. The role of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) during B. mallei infection was investigated using a disease model in which infected BALB/c mice normally die between 40 and 60 days postinfection. IFN-γ knockout mice infected with B. mallei died within 2 to 3 days after infection, and there was uncontrolled bacterial replication in several organs, demonstrating the essential role of IFN-γ in the innate immune response to this pathogen. Increased levels of IFN-γ, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattra..