Antigenic Modification, Rosette-Forming Cells, and Salmonella typhimurium Resistance in Outbred and Inbred Mice

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Abstract
To assess the separate contributions of host T cells and the physical state of the antigen in the development of effective Salmonella resistance, glutaraldehyde-treated and untreated protein- and RNA-rich extracts (E-RNA extracts) of virulent S. typhimurium SR-11 or attenuated S. typhimurium RIA were used to immunize Salmonella-resistant and Salmonella-susceptible strains of mice to determine whether antigen-specific T cell or B cell responses were formed and, if so, which responses predominated. The resistance imparted to each mouse strain after vaccination with S. typhimurium RIA was used as the standard for comparison. The inbred mouse strains C57BL/6 and DBA/2 and their F1 hybrid (strain BDF1), outbred ICR Swiss mice and endotoxin-resistant C3H/HeJ mice were examined for the capacity to develop resistance to lethal Salmonella infections, as well as the ability to generate antigen-reactive T cells. Only the BDF1, C3H/HeJ and ICR Swiss mice were able to develop resistance to challenge infections mediated by the virulent SR-11 strain of S. typhimurium after vaccination with the living, attenuated RIA strain of S. typhimurium or immunization with E-RNA extracts. An assay was developed to identify the antigen-reactive rosette-forming lymph nodes and spleens of immunized mice. Levels of 0.2% or higher of the .theta. antigen-bearing, antigen-reactive rosette-forming cells were found in the lymph nodes of spleens or both of only the BDF1, C3H/HeJ and ICR Swiss mice (i.e., in the Salmonella responder strains). Mouse strains C57BL/6 and DBA/2, which failed to develop resistance to lethal infections after immunization with the S. typhimurium RIA vaccine or with the E-RNA extracts, lacked effective numbers of anti-.theta. antigen-sensitive rosette-forming cells. Modification of the effective E-RNA extracts by polymerization with glutaraldehyde resulted in a marked diminution in their abilities to induce resistance to salmonellosis in the 2 responder mouse strains tested (BDF1 and ICR Swiss), even though detectable levels of antibody were induced.