Mice lacking interleukin-2 (IL-2)/IL-15 receptor β chain are susceptible to infection with avirulent Salmonella enterica subsp enterica serovar Choleraesuis but mice lacking IL-2 are resistant

Interleukin-2 (IL-2)/IL-15 receptor beta (IL-15R beta)(-/-) mice were susceptible to infection with avirulent Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Choleraesuis, whereas IL-2(-/-) mice were resistant. A natural killer cell response was not evident for both types of deficient mice. A Th1 response was detected in IL-2(-/-) but not in IL-2/IL-15R beta (-/-) mice infected with Salmonella, suggesting that IL-2/IL-15R beta signaling is important for the generation of protective Th1 cells.