Demonstration of a cell-mediated immune response in melioidosis

Melioidosis is a bacterial infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei. The aim of this study was to determine whether a cell-mediated adaptive immune response against B. pseudomallei developed in patients who had recovered from melioidosis. Lymphocyte proliferation assays were done on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients (n = 13) and control subjects (n = 10) to determine the lymphocyte response to B. pseudomallei antigens. Production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 was also determined. Activation of T cell subsets was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, using antibodies to CD4, CD8, and CD69 antigens. Lymphocyte proliferation and interferon-gamma production in response to B. pseudomallei antigens were significantly higher (P < .001 for both) in patients than in control subjects. There was also an increase in the percentage of activated CD4(+) (P < .004) and activated CD8(+) T cells (P < .035) in cell cultures from patients. The development of such a cell-mediated immune response in patients may be essential for their survival.