Immunological Responses in Bovine Tuberculosis

Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, triggers a complex interplay between innate and adaptive immunity in cattle. Following inhalation, bacilli are phagocytosed by alveolar macrophages, which produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and present antigen to T lymphocytes. A hallmark of the host response is granuloma formation in lung and lymphoid tissue, where infected macrophages, multinucleated giant cells and a fibroblastic cuff attempt to contain bacterial proliferation. Successful containment relies on a robust Th1-type response, characterised by interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor secretion, whereas Th17-associated cytokines such as interleukin-17A and interleukin-22 contribute to granuloma integrity and mucosal defence. Emerging evidence also highlights a regulatory layer of long noncoding RNAs that modulate transcriptional programmes in infected leukocytes. Despite these defence mechanisms, M. bovis can subvert immune activation through inhibition of antigen presentation and manipulation of cytokine networks, underscoring the need for improved diagnostics and vaccine strategies that harness both cellular and molecular facets of the bovine immune system.

Research from Nature Portfolio

In silico transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood from infected calves has identified hundreds of differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs associated with immune system gene modules, revealing novel regulators of antigen presentation and cytokine signalling at early and late stages of infection. Concurrently, flow cytometric studies employing a bovine-specific interleukin-22 antibody have demonstrated that both CD4+ and γδ T cell subsets produce IL-22 and IL-17A in response to tuberculin stimulation, with γδ T cells contributing a unique double-producer population. Together, these findings illuminate both noncoding RNA networks and precise cellular sources of key cytokines, offering fresh targets for immunomodulation and improved biomarker discovery.

Immunological Responses in Bovine Tuberculosis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in immunological responses in bovine tuberculosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Granuloma: A structured aggregate of immune cells formed around persistent pathogens to contain infection.

Macrophage: A phagocytic innate immune cell that ingests pathogens and presents antigen to lymphocytes.

γδ T cell: A subset of T lymphocytes with distinct T-cell receptors that bridge innate and adaptive immunity.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA): A regulatory RNA molecule over 200 nucleotides in length that modulates gene expression.

Cytokine: A small secreted protein that mediates communication between immune cells during inflammation and infection.

References

1. Preferential differential gene expression within the WC1.1+ γδ T cell compartment in cattle naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
2. Comparative Study of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis In Vitro Infection in Bovine Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages: Preliminary Results. Microorganisms (2024).
3. In-silico analysis of cattle blood transcriptome to identify lncRNAs and their role during bovine tuberculosis. Scientific Reports (2024).
4. The Bovine Tuberculoid Granuloma. Pathogens (2022).
5. CD4+ and γδ T Cells are the main Producers of IL-22 and IL-17A in Lymphocytes from Mycobacterium bovis-infected Cattle. Scientific Reports (2016).