# LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE:  CELL MEDIATED IMMUNITY

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · 1990 · $189,307

## Abstract

This is an application for competitive renewal of an ongoing study
concerning the nature and mechanism of cell mediated immunity (CMI) to L.
pneumophila infection.  We wish to further characterize CMI in comparison
to other aspects of immunity to L. pneumophila such as humoral immunity in
the guinea pig model we have utilized in this laboratory for a number of
years as well as a new mouse model which we are developing.  We will
continue both our in vivo and in vitro studies.  In guinea pigs, cell
transfer studies will be continued to determined the role of various immune
cells and antibodies in resistance and/or recovery from infection by these
organisms.  The fractionation and identification of cells responsible for
transferring resistance to Legionella infection will be examined in some
detail.  In addition, the mouse model system we have developed will permit
the use of both highly resistant and susceptible (strain A/J) mouse
strains.  Furthermore, resistant mice can be made more susceptible, either
by intratracheal infection or treatment with cyclophosphamide.  We propose
to further identify cells responsible for transfer of resistance and the
cell types which respond to the Legionella antigens in vitro by the blast
cell transformation assay and by production of soluble mediators of
immunity.  By use of specific antibody we will purify appropriate cell
populations.  The role of these cells in resistance to infection will be
determined.  We will also examine the roles played by IL-1, IL-2 and gamma
interferon, as well as TNF, in resistance of experimental animals,
especially mice, to Legionella infection.  We will continue to examine in
detail endocytosis of Legionella in vitro by macrophages, including those
obtained from susceptible guinea pigs, mice, and human monocytes and
explore the possibility that clathrin mediated endocytosis is involved in
Legionella ingestion and intracellular persistence.  By these studies we
will define various cell classes in the immune response system important in
restricting the growth of L. pneumophila, both at the whole animal and at
the cellular level.  Intact bacterial antigen as well as various purified
preparations, including outer membrane protein antigen and
lipopolysaccharide, will be used in these experiments.  We believe these
studies will permit us to determine in detail the nature and mechanisms of
cellular immunity and resistance to these important opportunistic
intracellular pathogens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126742
- **Project number:** 5R01AI016618-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** NKAZLXLL7Z91
- **Principal Investigator:** HERMAN FRIEDMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $189,307
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1981-04-01 → 1993-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126742

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126742, LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE:  CELL MEDIATED IMMUNITY (5R01AI016618-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126742. Licensed CC0.

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