Objectives Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of infectious mortality worldwide. At present, the only available vaccine for TB, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), has not proven effective in the prevention of adult tuberculosis. Increasingly, military personnel have been deployed to areas of the world where TB is endemic, with recent examples including Iraq and Afghanistan. As a result, an improved vaccine for TB is urgently needed. We have recently identified and characterized human, M. tuberculosis (Mtb)-reactive, non-classically restricted Cluster of differentiation 8+ (CD8+) T cells restricted by the non-classical Human Leukocyte Antigen 1b (HLA-Ib) molecule MR1. This molecule has not previously been shown to present pathogen associated antigens. In this application, we will define the role of MHC class I-related protein 1 (MR1) in the recognition of Mtb infected cells, and will define the antigen presented by MR1.
AIM 1 : Define the role of MR1 in CD8+ T cell recognition of Mtb-infected cells. a) Determine whether or not MR1-restricted Mtb-reactive T cells are innately acquired. b) Define the relative contribution of MR1, HLA-E, and CD1 to HLA-Ib-restricted CD8+ T cell TB immunity. c) Determine if primary lung epithelial cells can present Mtb antigens in the context of MR1, and if MR1- restricted CD8+ T cells are present in the lung.
AIM 2 : Define the antigen processing pathway for MR1. a) Identify the sub-cellular location in which TB antigens and MR1 become associated. b) Define the role of the proteasome, do-novo protein synthesis, TAP, and endosomal acidification in the processing of MR1 antigen(s).
AIM 3 : Determine the Mtb-derived antigen(s) that is (are) presented by MR1. a) Use an M. smegmatis transposon mutagenesis library to identify the MR1 antigen (s). Approach MR1-resctricted T cells from human cord blood, from peripheral blood adults with evidence of infection with Mtb, and in peripheral blood from those without infection will be compared by T-cell Receptor Excision Circles (TREC) for evidence of prior replication. Blocking antibodies will be used to determine the relative contribution of each HLA-Ib allele. Tracheal epithelial cells, type II pneumoncytes, and alveolar macrophages will be prepared, and tested for their ability to process and present Mtb and antigens found within the Mtb cell wall. Flow cytometry will be used to enumerate CD8 T cells expressing the MR-1 associated V17 T-cell Receptor (TCR), and these cells tested for their ability to recognize Mtb infected cells using IFN-3 ELISPOT. A combination of confocal microscopy and flow organellometry will be used to evaluate the presence or absence of MR1 in the Mtb phagosome. Fluorescently tagged MR1 suitable for lentivirial expression will be developed. Using chemical blockers as well as protein blockers of TAP, the requirement for TAP, acidificaton, and de-novo protein synthesis will be determined. A genetic approach will be used to define the mycobacterial MR1 antigen. In collaboration with Dr David Sherman (Seattle Biomedical Research Institute) an M. smegmatis transposon library will be developed, and tested for loss of function against MR1 restricted T cell clones. Confirmation of these results will be performed with Dr Karen Dobos (Colorado State University) and Bill Bishai (Johns Hopkins) using available mutants from a mariner transposon library.

Public Health Relevance

Project Narrative Tuberculosis remains a leading cause of infectious mortality worldwide. Increasingly, military personnel have been deployed to areas of the world where TB is endemic, with recent examples including Iraq and Afghanistan. As a result, an improved vaccine for TB is urgently needed. This application is focused on understanding the mechanisms by which human CD8 T cells can identify those cells infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis. Mtb resides within cells. As a result, CD8 T cells are uniquely able to find those cells that harbor this bacteria. This application is focused on understanding how the molecule MR1 is used to alert the immune system to the presence of Mtb. Because MR1 is highly conserved between all individuals, understanding how this molecule functions has application for the development of improved vaccines and diagnostics.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Type
Non-HHS Research Projects (I01)
Project #
1I01BX000533-01A1
Application #
7931814
Study Section
Infectious Diseases B (INFB)
Project Start
2010-04-01
Project End
2014-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Portland VA Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
089461255
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239
Harriff, Melanie J; McMurtrey, Curtis; Froyd, Cara A et al. (2018) MR1 displays the microbial metabolome driving selective MR1-restricted T cell receptor usage. Sci Immunol 3:
Hartmann, Nadine; McMurtrey, Curtis; Sorensen, Michelle L et al. (2018) Riboflavin Metabolism Variation among Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae Results in Differential Activation of Mucosal-associated Invariant T Cells. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 58:767-776
Meermeier, Erin W; Harriff, Melanie J; Karamooz, Elham et al. (2018) MAIT cells and microbial immunity. Immunol Cell Biol 96:607-617
Hartmann, Nadine; Harriff, Melanie J; McMurtrey, Curtis P et al. (2018) Role of MAIT cells in pulmonary bacterial infection. Mol Immunol 101:155-159
Greene, J M; Dash, P; Roy, S et al. (2017) MR1-restricted mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells respond to mycobacterial vaccination and infection in nonhuman primates. Mucosal Immunol 10:802-813
Harriff, Melanie J; Wolfe, Lisa M; Swarbrick, Gwendolyn et al. (2017) HLA-E Presents Glycopeptides from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein MPT32 to Human CD8+ T cells. Sci Rep 7:4622
McMurtrey, Curtis; Harriff, Melanie J; Swarbrick, Gwendolyn M et al. (2017) T cell recognition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis peptides presented by HLA-E derived from infected human cells. PLoS One 12:e0188288
Meermeier, Erin W; Laugel, Bruno F; Sewell, Andrew K et al. (2016) Human TRAV1-2-negative MR1-restricted T cells detect S. pyogenes and alternatives to MAIT riboflavin-based antigens. Nat Commun 7:12506
Harriff, Melanie J; Karamooz, Elham; Burr, Ansen et al. (2016) Endosomal MR1 Trafficking Plays a Key Role in Presentation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ligands to MAIT Cells. PLoS Pathog 12:e1005524
Nyendak, Melissa; Swarbrick, Gwendolyn M; Duncan, Amanda et al. (2016) Adenovirally-Induced Polyfunctional T Cells Do Not Necessarily Recognize the Infected Target: Lessons from a Phase I Trial of the AERAS-402 Vaccine. Sci Rep 6:36355

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