Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells use a combination of mechanisms to limit the spread of the pathogenic bacteria Brucella.

Human Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells play a crucial role in early immune response to intracellular pathogens. In brucellosis infection, this population of cells is drastically increased in the peripheral blood of patients during the acute phase of infection. In vitro, Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells exhibit strong cytolytic activity against Brucella-infected cells and are able to impair intracellular growth of Brucella suis in autologous macrophages.

Expansion of the BPI family by duplication on human chromosome 20: characterization of the RY gene cluster in 20q11.21 encoding olfactory transporters/antimicrobial-like peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides provide a defense system against microorganisms. One class of these molecules binds lipophilic substrates and is therefore directed against gram-negative bacteria. This family includes proteins related to bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI).