Genetic control of resistance to Coccidioides immitis: a single gene that is expressed in spleen cells determines resistance.

We have previously reported that inbred mice vary widely in their resistance to Coccidioides immitis peritonitis. To investigate the number of genes controlling resistance, (susceptible X resistant)F1 X susceptible backcross mice were tested for resistance to infection. A 1:1 ratio of resistant:susceptible offspring was observed, which is consistent with a single dominant gene determining resistance. To find out whether this gene, which we designated Cms, is expressed in the immune and/or the inflammatory responses, radiation chimeras were constructed by transplanting spleen cells from the resistant F1 mice into the susceptible parental strain. These chimeras were consistently more resistant to infection than the susceptible parental strain. We concluded that resistance to C. immitis is determined primarily by a single gene, and that this gene is expressed by spleen cells.