Cutting edge:: IFN-γ-producing CD4 T lymphocytes mediate spore-induced immunity to capsulated Bacillus anthracis

Virulent strains of Bacillus anthracis produce immuno-modulating toxins and an antiphagocytic capsule. The toxin component-protective Ag is a key target of the antianthrax immune response that induces production of toxin-neutralizing Abs. Coinimunization with spores enhances the antitoxin vaccine, and inactivated spores alone confer measurable protection. We aimed to identify the mechanisms of protection induced in inactivated-spore immunized mice that function independently of the toxin/antitoxin vaccine system. This goal was addressed with humoral and CD4 T lymphocyte transfer, in vivo depletion of CD4 T lymphocytes and IFN-gamma, and Ab-deficient (mu MT-/-) or IFN-gamma-insensitive (ITN-gamma R-/-) mice. We found that humoral immunity did not protect from nontoxinogenic capsulated bacteria, whereas a cellular immune response by IFN-gamma-producing CD4 T lymphocytes protected mice. These results are the first evidence of protective cellular immunity against capsulated B. anthracis and suggest that future antianthrax vaccines should strive to augment cellular adaptive immunity.