A critical role for neutrophils in resistance to experimental infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei

Abstract

Inhalation is an important route of infection with Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis. In resistant C57BL/6 mice, activated neutrophils are rapidly recruited to the lungs after intranasal B. pseudomallei infection. Prevention of this response by use of the anti-Gr-1 + cell-depleting monoclonal antibody RB6-8C5 severely exacerbated disease, resulting in an acute lethal infection associated with a 1000-fold increase in lung bacterial loads within 4 days. C57BL/6 interferon (IFN)-γ-/- mice were also acutely susceptible to pulmonary B. pseudomallei infection, dying within 3 days of challenge; this suggests that IFN-γ is essential for control in the lungs and precedes t..