AUTHOR=Kohl Lisa , Hayek Inaya , Daniel Christoph , Schulze-Lührmann Jan , Bodendorfer Barbara , Lührmann Anja , Lang Roland 

TITLE=MyD88 Is Required for Efficient Control of Coxiella burnetii Infection and Dissemination

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00165

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2019.00165

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>The intracellular pathogen <italic>Coxiella (C.) burnetii</italic> causes Q fever, a usually self-limiting respiratory infection that becomes chronic and severe in some patients. Innate immune recognition of <italic>C. burnetii</italic> and its role in the decision between resolution and chronicity is not understood well. However, TLR2 is important for the response to <italic>C. burnetii</italic> in mice, and genetic polymorphisms in <italic>Myd88</italic> have been associated with chronic Q fever in humans. Here, we have employed MyD88-deficient mice in infection models with the attenuated <italic>C. burnetii</italic> Nine Mile phase II strain (NMII). <italic>Myd88</italic><sup>−/−</sup> macrophages failed to restrict the growth of NMII <italic>in vitro</italic>, and to upregulate production of the cytokines TNF, IL-6, and IL-10. Following intraperitoneal infection, NMII bacterial burden was significantly higher on day 5 and 20 in organs of <italic>Myd88</italic><sup>−/−</sup> mice. After infection <italic>via</italic> the natural route by intratracheal injection, a higher bacterial load in the lung and increased dissemination of NMII to other organs was observed in MyD88-deficient mice. While wild-type mice essentially cleared NMII on day 27 after intratracheal infection, it was still readily detectable on day 42 in multiple organs in the absence of MyD88. Despite the elevated bacterial load, <italic>Myd88</italic><sup>−/−</sup> mice had less granulomatous inflammation and expressed significantly lower levels of chemoattractants, inflammatory cytokines, and of several IFNγ-induced genes relevant for control of intracellular pathogens. Together, our results show that MyD88-dependent signaling is essential for early control of <italic>C. burnetii</italic> replication and to prevent systemic spreading. The continued presence of NMII in the organs of <italic>Myd88</italic><sup>−/−</sup> mice constitutes a new mouse model to study determinants of chronicity and resolution in Q fever.</p>