From mouth to macrophage: mechanisms of innate immune subversion by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

Authors: Arsenault, Ryan; MAATTANEN, PEKKA - University Of Saskatchewan; DAIGLE, JOANNA - University Of Saskatchewan; POTTER, ANDREW - University Of Saskatchewan; GRIEBEL, PHILIP - University Of Saskatchewan; NAPPER, SCOTT - University Of Saskatchewan

Submitted to: Veterinary Research
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/13/2014
Publication Date: 5/14/2014
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/59775
Citation: Arsenault, R.J., Maattanen, P., Daigle, J., Potter, A., Griebel, P., Napper, S. 2014. From mouth to macrophage: Mechanisms of innate immune subversion by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Veterinary Research. 45:54. doi: 10.1186/1297-9716-45-54.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Johne’s disease (JD) is a chronic enteric infection of cattle caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). The high economic cost and potential zoonotic threat of JD have driven efforts to develop tools and approaches to effectively manage this disease within livestock herds. Efforts to control JD through traditional animal management practices are complicated by MAP’s ability to cause long-term environmental contamination as well as difficulties associated with diagnosis of JD in the pre-clinical stages. As such, there is particular emphasis on the development of an effective vaccine. This is a daunting challenge, in large part due to MAP’s ability to subvert protective host immune responses. Accordingly there is a priority to understand the interaction of MAP with the bovine host as this may inform rationale targets and approaches for therapeutic intervention. Here we review the early host defenses encountered by MAP, and the strategies employed by the pathogen to avert or subvert these responses, during the critical period between ingestion and the establishment of persistent infection in macrophages.