The Virulence Polysaccharide Vi Released by Salmonella Typhi Targets Membrane Prohibitin to Inhibit T-Cell Activation

T cells are critical to immunity against pathogenic Salmonella including Salmonella Typhi which causes system-ic infection, typhoid, in humans. The strategies that this pathogen employs to keep T-cell mediated immune responses in check during establishment of systemic infection are not completely understood. Here, we show that the virulence polysaccharide Vi, which distinguishes S. Typhi from localized gastroenteritis-producing non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars, is a potent inhibitor of T-cell activation. Vi released by S. Typhi interacts with the membrane prohibitin complex and inhibits IL-2 secretion from T cells stimulated through the T-cell receptor (TCR) but does not affect PMA-activated interleukin 2 (IL-2) secretion. Treatment with Vi suppresses early activation events including TCR down-regulation, actin polymerization, and phosphorylation of ERK. Coad-ministration of Vi with anti-CD3 Ab reduces secretion of IL-2 and interferon γ in mice. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which S. Typhi may target T-cell immunity during establishment of typhoid. Keywords. Salmonella Typhi; virulence polysaccharide Vi; prohibitin; T cells. Salmonella Typhi enters the body through the oral route, invades the intestinal epithelium, and dissemi-nates throughout the reticuloendothelial system. It pro-duces this systemic infection almost exclusively i