Pulmonary Colonization Resistance to Pathogens via Noncanonical Wnt and Interleukin-17A by Intranasal pep27 Mutant Immunization

Background. Previous studies have focused on colonization resistance of the gut microbiota against antibiotic resistant strains. However, less research has been performed on respiratory colonization resistance. Methods. Because respiratory colonization is the first step of respiratory infections, intervention to prevent colonization would represent a new approach for preventive and therapeutic measures. The Th17 response plays an important role in clearance of respiratory pathogens. Thus, harnessing the Th17 immune response in the mucosal site would be an effective method to design a respiratory mucosal vaccine. Results. In this study, we show that intranasal Delta pep27 immunization induces noncanonical Wnt and subsequent interleukin (IL)-17 secretion, and it inhibits Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae colonization. Moreover, IL-17A neutralization or nuclear factor of activated T-cell inhibition augmented bacterial colonization, indicating that noncanonical Wnt signaling is involved in pulmonary colonization resistance. Conclusions. Therefore, Delta pep27 immunization can provide nonspecific respiratory colonization resistance via noncanonical Wnt signaling and IL-17A-related pathways.