T Cell Involvement in Resistance to Facultative Intracellular Pathogens of the Lung

¹ Professor of Pathology and Microbiology Immunology.

In this brief overview, data have been presented which indicate, that T cells do influence the fate of facultative intracellular organisms which infect the lung. With some organisms, such as Mycobacteria, their role is not at all well-defined, while with others, such as Legionella pneumophila, a role for a particular T cell product,IFN[unknown] has been described. Experiments using another facultative intracellular pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes, indicate that the intracellular fate of the organism may be influenced not only by T cells but also by the receptor through which the bacterium is internalized. Whether expression of these receptors is itself influenced by T cells and their products is not yet known.