Kidney-resident innate-like memory γδ T cells control chronic <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> infection of mice

Abstract

γδ T cells are involved in the control of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> infection, but their importance in protection compared to other T cells is unclear. We used a mouse model of systemic <i>S. aureus</i> infection associated with high bacterial load and persistence in the kidney. Infection caused fulminant accumulation of γδ T cells in the kidney. Renal γδ T cells acquired tissue residency and were maintained in high numbers during chronic infection. At day 7, up to 50% of renal γδ T cells produced IL-17A in situ and a large fraction of renal γδ T cells remained IL-17A⁺ during chronic infection. Controlled depletion revealed that γδ T cells restricted renal <i>S. aureus</i> replication in the acute infection and provided protection during chronic renal infection and upon reinfection. Our results demonstrate that kidney-resident γδ T cells are nonredundant in limiting local <i>S. aureus</i> growth during chronic infection and provide enhanced protection against reinfection.