The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 23, Issue 3 239-246, Copyright © 1987 by Society for General Microbiology
Regulation of cell-mediated immunity in mice immunised with Salmonella enteritidis
A. George, R. Nair, S. Rath, S. N. Ghosh and R. S. Kamat
The effects of diverse factors, such as route of immunisation, composition
of immunogen and administration of interferon inducer, on the expression of
cell-mediated immune responses against Salmonella enteritidis were
investigated in BALB/c and Swiss white mice. Immunisation with live cells
of S. enteritidis by the intraperitoneal route (ip) generated both delayed
type hypersensitivity (DTH) and protective cell-mediated immunity (CMI).
However, the two responses showed diametrically opposite time kinetics. The
decline and disappearance by 9 weeks after ip immunisation of DTH and the
rise of protective immunity in the same period suggested the possibility
that the two responses were mediated by different subsets of T cells.
Immunisation by the intradermal (id) route with a sonicate of S.
enteritidis generated only DTH; id immunisation also suppressed the
development of the protective response following ip immunisation with live
S. enteritidis. Both responses were not seen when T cells were eliminated
with anti-T cell serum. Oral immunisation with live cells of S. enteritidis
induced excellent CMI expressing both DTH and protective responses. On the
other hand, oral immunisation with the sonicate of S. enteritidis not only
did not induce CMI, but also prevented the development of the DTH and
protective response to ip immunisation with live S. enteritidis. Induction
of interferon by the administration of poly I: poly C for four consecutive
days after id immunisation with killed S. enteritidis suppressed the
generation of DTH.
