Role of γδ T cells in protecting chickens against Salmonella enterica spp. infections

为了有效控制家禽中的沙门氏菌感染，对鸡的基本免疫学过程的详细了解是必不可少的。不同血清型沙门氏菌感染雏鸡后，肠道组织和血液中不同γδT细胞亚群的数量显著增加。尤其是炎症部位的CD8CD8αα+γδT细胞数量增加。然而，这些细胞是否在鸡对沙门氏菌感染的免疫防御中发挥作用尚不清楚。因此，将αβ和γδT细胞敲除鸡以及野生型鸡感染肠炎沙门氏菌，并对病原体在机体内的传播和动物的免疫反应进行比较研究。将特别关注γδT细胞及其亚群以及动物肠道中细胞与细胞的相互作用。与沙门氏菌感染的淋巴细胞/巨噬细胞共培养的补充性体外实验将提供对γδT细胞的表型和功能灵活性以及鸟类免疫系统内细胞相互作用的分子基础的更详细的见解。所获得的知识将有助于改善家禽生产中对这种人畜共患病病原体的控制。FOR5130中的个别研究项目受益于彼此之间的合作，并提供了对鸡与重要病原体相关的免疫系统的更好了解。

For effective control of Salmonella infections in poultry, detailed knowledge of basic immunological processes in chickens is essential. Infection of chickens with different Salmonella serovars results in a significant increase of different γδ T cell subpopulations in intestinal tissue and blood. Especially an increase in number of CD8αα+ γδ T cells has been observed at inflammatory sites. However, whether these cells play a role in the immune defense against Salmonella infections in chickens remains unknown. Therefore, αβ and γδ T cell knockout as well as wild type chickens will be infected with Salmonella enterica spp., and the spread of the pathogens in the organism and the immune response of the animals will be investigated comparatively. Special attention will be directed to γδ T cells and their subpopulations as well as to cell-cell interactions in the intestines of the animals. Complementary, in vitro experiments with Salmonella-infected lymphocytes/macrophage co-cultures will provide more detailed insights into the phenotypic and functional flexibility of γδ T cells and the molecular basis of cellular interactions within the immune system of birds. Obtained knowledge will help to improve control of this zoonotic pathogen in poultry production. The individual research projects within FOR5130 benefit from the collaborations among each other and provide a better insight into the immune system of chickens in relation to important pathogens.