Transitions in immune responses to Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

The host immune response to infection with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis i s paradoxical, with strong cell-mediated immune responses during the early, subclinical stages of infection and strong humoral responses during the la te clinical stages of the disease. Cell-mediated immune responses modulated by various T cell subsets are essential to provide protective immunity and prevent progression of the disease. Secretion of cytokines by T cell popul ations serves to activate macrophages to kill ingested M. paratuberculosis as well as activate other T cell subsets to contain the infection. This pap er reviews the current knowledge of T cell immune responses in M. paratuber culosis infection based upon clinical studies and research using mouse mode ls. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.