Gamma Interferon Is Required for Chlamydia Clearance but Is Dispensable for T Cell Homing to the Genital Tract

Abstract

Chlamydia trachomatis is an important mucosal pathogen that is the leading cause of sexually transmitted bacterial infections in the United States. Despite this, there is no vaccine currently available. In order to develop such a vaccine, it is necessary to understand the components of the immune response that can lead to protection against this pathogen. It is well known that antigen-specific CD4 + T cells are critical for Chlamydia clearance, but the contexts in which they are protective or not protective are unknown. Here, we aimed to characterize the importance of gamma interferon production and sensing by T cells and the effects on the immune response to C. trachomatis . Our work here helps to define the contexts in which antigen-specific T cells can be protective, which is critical to our ability to design an effective and protective vaccine against C. trachomatis .