Role of interferon gamma in control of Cowdria ruminantium growth in-vitro. Abstract

Immune mechanisms against Cowdria ruminantium infection in livestock hosts are being investigated. This knowledge will be important for identification of protective antigens of C. ruminantium which will have application in the Development of vaccines against heartwater. T-cell Con-A supernatants inhibited the growth of C. ruminantium in-vitro. This effect was neither C. ruminantium strain or bovine endothelial cell type specific. As a follow up to these studies the cytokines responsible for this inhibition were investigated. Antibodies against bovine interferon (IFN) and tissue necrosis factor (TNF) were added to the infected cultures containing the T cell Con-A supernatants. Antibodies to IFN alone were able to block the inhibitory effect of these T cell supernatants. This data demonstrates the possible regulatory role of T cell in control of C. ruminantium infection.