Establishing two systems to study MAIT cell responses during bacterial infection

Abstract

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a population of innate-like T cells, which are abundant in humans and also present in many mammals, including mice [1]. MAIT cells express semi-invariant T cell receptors (TCR) are activated by recognizing microbial vitamin B2 (riboflavin) metabolites presented on non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I related protein 1 (MR1) [1-6]. Upon activation, MAIT cells can either directly kill infected cells or secrete IFN, IL-17, TNF and other functional molecules that enhance the anti-microbial activity of other immune cells [7, 8]. These characteristics suggest an important role played by MAIT cells in anti-bacterial immunity in..