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Andreacchio G, Longo Y, Moreno Mascaraque S, Anandasothy K, Tofan S, Özün E, Wilschrey L, Ptok J, Huynh DT, Luirink J, Drexler I. Viral Vector-Based Chlamydia trachomatis Vaccines Encoding CTH522 Induce Distinct Immune Responses in C57BL/6J and HLA Transgenic Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:944. [PMID: 39204067 PMCID: PMC11360449 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12080944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis remains a major global health problem with increasing infection rates, requiring innovative vaccine solutions. Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA) is a well-established, safe and highly immunogenic vaccine vector, making it a promising candidate for C. trachomatis vaccine development. In this study, we evaluated two novel MVA-based recombinant vaccines expressing spCTH522 and CTH522:B7 antigens. Our results show that while both vaccines induced CD4+ T-cell responses in C57BL/6J mice, they failed to generate antigen-specific systemic CD8+ T cells. Only the membrane-anchored CTH522 elicited strong IgG2b and IgG2c antibody responses. In an HLA transgenic mouse model, both recombinant MVAs induced Th1-directed CD4+ T cell and multifunctional CD8+ T cells, while only the CTH522:B7 vaccine generated antibody responses, underscoring the importance of antigen localization. Collectively, our data indicate that distinct antigen formulations can induce different immune responses depending on the mouse strain used. This research contributes to the development of effective vaccines by highlighting the importance of careful antigen design and the selection of appropriate animal models to study specific vaccine-induced immune responses. Future studies should investigate whether these immune responses provide protection in humans and should explore different routes of immunization, including mucosal and systemic immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Andreacchio
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
| | - Ylenia Longo
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
| | - Sara Moreno Mascaraque
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
| | - Kartikan Anandasothy
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
| | - Sarah Tofan
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
| | - Esma Özün
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
| | - Lena Wilschrey
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
| | - Johannes Ptok
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
| | - Dung T. Huynh
- R&D Department, Abera Bioscience AB, 75184 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joen Luirink
- R&D Department, Abera Bioscience AB, 75184 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ingo Drexler
- Institute of Virology, Universitätsklinikum Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (G.A.)
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Huang Y, Zhu B, Ji X, Wen Y, Wang Y, Hu X, Yuan Y. Forty years of development of salpingitis animal modeling. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2023; 308:1093-1112. [PMID: 36797525 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-06966-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes and examines research in the area of salpingitis animal modeling in the last 40 years, focusing primarily on Chlamydia trachomatis animal models, which are the most numerous in the literature. Early animal models are examined, followed by a discussion of study parameters and their impact on modeling success, subsequent considerations of fertility measures in modeling, explorations of treatment options, and finally exploring recent directions with a brief discussion of models using other bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yefang Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Boyu Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoli Ji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi Wen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiang Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ye Yuan
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 39 Shi-Er-Qiao Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, 610072.
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Huang Y, Wu H, Sun Y, Liu Y. Tryptophan residue of plasmid-encoded Pgp3 is important for Chlamydia muridarum to induce hydrosalpinx in mice. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1216372. [PMID: 37497542 PMCID: PMC10367112 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1216372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The crucial role of plasmid-encoded protein Pgp3 in Chlamydia pathogenesis has been demonstrated in various animal models. Previous studies have revealed that the Pgp3-deficient C. muridarum mutant fails to induce hydrosalpinx after vaginal inoculation in mice. Structural analysis of C. trachomatis Pgp3 trimer has indicated that Trp234 may play a critical role in trimeric crystal packing interactions and that Tyr197 is involved at predominant cation-binding sites. In this study, we constructed C. muridarum transformants harboring Pgp3, Trp234, or Tyr197 point mutations (Pgp3W234A and Pgp3Y197A). C3H/HeJ mice infected with Pgp3W234A mutant failed to induce severe hydrosalpinx in the oviduct tissue, which largely phenocopied the full-length Pgp3-deficient C. muridarum. The Pgp3Y197A variant induced an intermediate severity of pathology. The attenuated pathogenicity caused by the Pgp3W234A mutant may be due to its decreased survival in the lower genital tracts of mice, reduced ascension to the oviduct, and milder induction of inflammatory cell infiltration in the oviduct tissue. Thus, our results point to an important amino acid residue involved in Pgp3 virulence, providing a potential therapeutic target for chlamydial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Huang
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Haoqing Wu
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yina Sun
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital, Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanjun Liu
- Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Rajeeve K, Sivadasan R. Transcervical Mouse Infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and Determination of Bacterial Burden. Bio Protoc 2020; 10:e3506. [PMID: 33654733 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate human pathogen. It infects the genital tract of humans ascending into the fallopian tube, exacerbated by chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, and fallopian tube scaring resulting in infertility and other malignancies. The major hurdle in controlling chlamydial spread is that the infection remains asymptomatic, thus leading to chronic, recurrent and persistent infections, with no vaccines developed so far. Being a human pathogen, we do not have an in vivo model of C. trachomatis infection. C. trachomatis do not cause ascending infections and fallopian tube pathology in the mouse urogenital tract when infected vaginally. To overcome this hurdle trans cervical method of infection must be adapted. In this protocol the method of establishing trans-cervical Chlamydial infection with the procedure to determine the bacterial load is detailed. This method will facilitate to deliver the bacteria past the cervix establishing an ascending infection into the uterine horns reciprocating human fallopian tube infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthika Rajeeve
- Department of Biomedicine, The Skou building, Hoegh-Guldbergs Gade 10, Aarhus University, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Rajeeve Sivadasan
- RNA Biology and Cancer German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Tifrea DF, Pal S, de la Maza LM. A Recombinant Chlamydia trachomatis MOMP Vaccine Elicits Cross-serogroup Protection in Mice Against Vaginal Shedding and Infertility. J Infect Dis 2020; 221:191-200. [PMID: 31504647 PMCID: PMC6935996 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen worldwide. Here, we determined the ability of a C. trachomatis recombinant major outer membrane protein (rMOMP) vaccine to elicit cross-serogroup protection. METHODS Female C3H/HeN mice were vaccinated by mucosal and systemic routes with C. trachomatis serovar D (UW-3/Cx) rMOMP and challenged in the ovarian bursa with serovars D (UW-3/Cx), D (UCI-96/Cx), E (IOL-43), or F (N.I.1). CpG-1826 and Montanide ISA 720 were used as adjuvants. RESULTS Immune responses following vaccination were more robust against the most closely related serovars. Following a genital challenge (as determined by number of mice with positive vaginal cultures, number of positive cultures, number of inclusion forming units recovered, and number of days with positive cultures) mice challenged with C. trachomatis serovars of the same complex were protected but not those challenged with serovar F (N.I.1) from a different subcomplex. Females were caged with male mice. Based on fertility rates, number of embryos, and hydrosalpinx formation, vaccinated mice were protected against challenges with serovars D (UW-3/Cx), D (UCI-96/Cx), and E (IOL-43) but not F (N.I.1). CONCLUSIONS This is the first subunit vaccine shown to protect mice against infection, pathology, and infertility caused by different C. trachomatis serovars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delia F Tifrea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine
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Howe SE, Shillova N, Konjufca V. Dissemination of Chlamydia from the reproductive tract to the gastro-intestinal tract occurs in stages and relies on Chlamydia transport by host cells. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1008207. [PMID: 31790512 PMCID: PMC6907867 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen and a major cause of sexually transmitted disease and preventable blindness. In women, infections with C. trachomatis may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. In addition to infecting the female reproductive tract (FRT), Chlamydia spp. are routinely found in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract of animals and humans and can be a reservoir for reinfection of the FRT. Whether Chlamydia disseminates from the FRT to the GI tract via internal routes remains unknown. Using mouse-specific C. muridarum as a model pathogen we show that Chlamydia disseminates from the FRT to the GI tract in a stepwise manner, by first infecting the FRT-draining iliac lymph nodes (ILNs), then the spleen, then the GI tract. Tissue CD11c+ DCs mediate the first step: FRT to ILN Chlamydia transport, which relies on CCR7:CCL21/CCL19 signaling. The second step, Chlamydia transport from ILN to the spleen, also relies on cell transport. However, this step is dependent on cell migration mediated by sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signaling. Finally, spleen to GI tract Chlamydia spread is the third critical step, and is significantly hindered in splenectomized mice. Inhibition of Chlamydia dissemination significantly reduces or precludes the induction of Chlamydia-specific serum IgG antibodies, presence of which is correlated with FRT pathology in women. This study reveals important insights in context of Chlamydia spp. pathogenesis and will inform the development of therapeutic targets and vaccines to combat this pathogen. Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterial pathogen and a major cause of sexually transmitted disease and preventable blindness worldwide. In women, C. trachomatis may cause PID, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, and infertility. Chlamydia spp. are routinely found in the gastro-intestinal (GI) tract of humans and animals. However, whether and how Chlamydia spreads internally to the GI tract following the female reproductive tract (FRT) infection remains unknown. Using a mouse model of infection here we show that Chlamydia spreads to the GI tract in a stepwise manner, by first infecting the FRT-draining iliac lymph nodes (ILNs), then the spleen and the GI tract. Tissue DCs mediate the first step: FRT to ILN Chlamydia spread, which relies on CCR7:CCL21/CCL19 signaling. The second step, ILN to spleen spread, also relies on cell migration, and is dependent on sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signaling. Finally, spleen to GI tract Chlamydia spread is the third critical step and is significantly hindered in splenectomized mice. Our study reveals important insight in context of Chlamydia pathogenesis. In addition, this work will inform the identification of therapeutic targets and development of vaccines against this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah E. Howe
- School of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Program, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Nita Shillova
- School of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Program, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Vjollca Konjufca
- School of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Program, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Huang Y, Sun Y, Qin T, Liu Y. The Structural Integrity of Plasmid-Encoded Pgp3 Is Essential for Induction of Hydrosalpinx by Chlamydia muridarum. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:13. [PMID: 30805313 PMCID: PMC6370636 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pgp3 consists of globular N- and C-terminal domains connected by a triple-helical coiled-coil middle domain. We demonstrated previously that Pgp3 is required for induction of hydrosalpinx by Chlamydia muridarum. We constructed C. muridarum transformants harboring deletion of the Pgp3 N-terminus (pgp3Δn), C-terminus (pgp3Δc), or middle domain (pgp3Δm). C3H/HeJ and CBA/J mice infected with pgp3Δn or pgp3Δm failed to induce hydrosalpinx in oviduct tissue. However, the pgp3Δc transformant induced mild hydrosalpinx in 20% of C3H/HeJ mice (severity score 0.2 ± 0.6) and in 40% of CBA/J mice (severity score 0.8 ± 1.3). The attenuated pathogenicity of the transformants harboring Pgp3 domain deletions was correlated with impaired in vitro growth and significantly reduced infectivity in the mouse lower genital tract. Moreover, the oviduct tissue of C3H/HeJ and CBA/J mice infected with the Pgp3-domain-deficient transformants displayed less inflammatory cell infiltration. Thus, the structural integrity of plasmid-encoded Pgp3 is essential for induction of hydrosalpinx by C. muridarum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Huang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yina Sun
- Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development (Ministry of Health), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Metabolic Diseases Hospital and Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Tai Qin
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Department of Pancreatic Cancer, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanjun Liu
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Feodorova V, Sultanakhmedov E, Saltykov Y, Zaitsev S, Utz S, Corbel M, Gaydos C, Quinn T, Motin V. First Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis 'Swedish' Variant (nvCT) in a Russian Couple with Infertility. Open Microbiol J 2018; 12:343-352. [PMID: 30450141 PMCID: PMC6198409 DOI: 10.2174/1874285801812010343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic asymptomatic chlamydial genital infection caused by the wild-type of Chlamydia trachomatis (wtCT) is the most common bacterial infection causing human infertility. The novel 'Swedish' variant of С.trachomatis (nvCT) which contains a 377 bp deletion in a region that is specifically targeted in some nucleic acid amplification tests may impede diagnosis. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to investigate whether nvCT may be a possible cause of infertility in a couple undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHOD Clinical specimens from both genital (urethra and cervix) and extra-genital sites (pharynx, conjunctive, blood) of a couple who experienced multiple unsuccessful attempts at pregnancy by natural fertilization and IVF procedures were analyzed before and after antibiotic therapy. Both partners had neither somatic nor endocrinal abnormality nor any clinically apparent genital manifestations of Chlamydia or other STIs. RESULTS Before antibiotic therapy all the samples of the Female Partner (FP) contained DNA of only the nvCT. After antibiotic therapy, additionally, DNA of wtCT of genovars E and D was detected in specimens from her conjunctiva and oropharynx. All samples of the Male Partner (MP) revealed co-infection of nvCT and wtCT. Identical SNP within the variable region 4 (VD4) of the ompA gene confirmed the identity of the wtCT strains found in both partners. The FP had a positive anti-chlamydial IgG titer. The sperm characteristics of the MP, motility (immotile spermatozoa was 51.1% versus 21.6%) and vitality (46% versus 68%) declined progressively, and the MP anti-chlamydial IgG titer was negative. CONCLUSION Infertility in this couple may have been caused by chronic asymptomatic and persistent nvCT-associated infection that was complicated by re-infection later with wtCT. This study illustrates the importance of including detection methods for nvCT strains in the investigation of infertility cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Feodorova
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology and NanoBiotechnology, Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology, Branch in Saratov, Ap. 6, the 53 Strelkovoi Divisii Street, Saratov, 410028, Russia
| | - Edgar Sultanakhmedov
- Department for Skin Diseases, Saratov State Medical University, 22, Proviantskaya Street, Saratov, 410028, Russia
| | - Yury Saltykov
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology and NanoBiotechnology, Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology, Branch in Saratov, Ap. 6, the 53 Strelkovoi Divisii Street, Saratov, 410028, Russia
| | - Sergey Zaitsev
- Laboratory for Molecular Biology and NanoBiotechnology, Federal Research Center for Virology and Microbiology, Branch in Saratov, Ap. 6, the 53 Strelkovoi Divisii Street, Saratov, 410028, Russia
| | - Sergey Utz
- Department for Skin Diseases, Saratov State Medical University, 22, Proviantskaya Street, Saratov, 410028, Russia
| | - Michael Corbel
- Department of Bacteriology, The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), Potters Bar, EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Charlotte Gaydos
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Rangos Bldg, Suite 530, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Thomas Quinn
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Rangos Bldg, Suite 530, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Vladimir Motin
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0609, USA
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Transcervical Inoculation with Chlamydia trachomatis Induces Infertility in HLA-DR4 Transgenic and Wild-Type Mice. Infect Immun 2017; 86:IAI.00722-17. [PMID: 29038126 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00722-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of infection-induced infertility in women. Attempts to control this epidemic with screening programs and antibiotic therapy have failed. Currently, a vaccine to prevent C. trachomatis infections is not available. In order to develop an animal model for evaluating vaccine antigens that can be applied to humans, we used C. trachomatis serovar D (strain UW-3/Cx) to induce infertility in mice whose major histocompatibility complex class II antigen was replaced with the human leukocyte antigen DR4 (HLA-DR4). Transcervical inoculation of medroxyprogesterone-treated HLA-DR4 transgenic mice with 5 × 105C. trachomatis D inclusion forming units (IFU) induced a significant reduction in fertility, with a mean number of embryos/mouse of 4.4 ± 1.3 compared to 7.8 ± 0.5 for the uninfected control mice (P < 0.05). A similar fertility reduction was elicited in the wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice (4.3 ± 1.4 embryos/mouse) compared to the levels of the WT controls (9.1 ± 0.4 embryos/mouse) (P < 0.05). Following infection, WT mice mounted more robust humoral and cellular immune responses than HLA-DR4 mice. As determined by vaginal shedding, HLA-DR4 mice were more susceptible to a transcervical C. trachomatis D infection than WT mice. To assess if HLA-DR4 transgenic and WT mice could be protected by vaccination, 104 IFU of C. trachomatis D was delivered intranasally, and mice were challenged transcervically 6 weeks later with 5 × 105 IFU of C. trachomatis D. As determined by severity and length of vaginal shedding, WT C57BL/6 and HLA-DR4 mice were significantly protected by vaccination. The advantages and limitations of the HLA-DR4 transgenic mouse model for evaluating human C. trachomatis vaccine antigens are discussed.
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Update on Chlamydia trachomatis Vaccinology. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2017; 24:CVI.00543-16. [PMID: 28228394 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00543-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Attempts to produce a vaccine to protect against Chlamydia trachomatis-induced trachoma were initiated more than 100 years ago and continued for several decades. Using whole organisms, protective responses were obtained. However, upon exposure to C. trachomatis, disease exacerbation developed in some immunized individuals, precluding the implementation of the vaccine. Evidence of the role of C. trachomatis as a sexually transmitted pathogen started to emerge in the 1960s, and it soon became evident that it can cause acute infections and long-term sequelae in women, men, and newborns. The main focus of this minireview is to summarize recent findings and discuss formulations, including antigens, adjuvants, routes, and delivery systems for immunization, primarily explored in the female mouse model, with the goal of implementing a vaccine against C. trachomatis genital infections.
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Dutow P, Wask L, Bothe M, Fehlhaber B, Laudeley R, Rheinheimer C, Yang Z, Zhong G, Glage S, Klos A. An optimized, fast-to-perform mouse lung infection model with the human pathogenChlamydia trachomatisforin vivoscreening of antibiotics, vaccine candidates and modified host–pathogen interactions. Pathog Dis 2015; 74:ftv120. [DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftv120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Pal S, Tatarenkova OV, de la Maza LM. A vaccine formulated with the major outer membrane protein can protect C3H/HeN, a highly susceptible strain of mice, from a Chlamydia muridarum genital challenge. Immunology 2015; 146:432-43. [PMID: 26423798 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2015] [Revised: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
C3H/HeN female mice were vaccinated with native Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein (MOMP), using Montanide+CpG or Alum+CpG as adjuvants. Negative control groups were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and the same adjuvants. As positive control, mice were inoculated intranasally with live Chlamydia. Mice were challenged in the ovarian bursa with 10(5) C. muridarum inclusion forming units. Six weeks after the genital challenge the animals were caged with male mice and monitored for pregnancy. Mice vaccinated with MOMP+Montanide+CpG developed high levels of C. muridarum-specific antibodies, with a high IgG2a/IgG1 ratio and neutralizing titres. Animals immunized using Alum+CpG had low antibody levels. Cellular immune responses were significantly higher in mice vaccinated with MOMP and Montanide+CpG, but not with Alum+CpG, when compared with negative controls. Following the genital challenge, only 20% (4/20) of mice vaccinated with MOMP+CpG+Montanide had positive vaginal cultures whereas 100% (9/9) of mice immunized with MOMP+CpG+Alum had positive cultures. Of the positive control animals inoculated with live Chlamydia only 15% (3/20) had positive vaginal cultures. In contrast, 100% (20/20) of mice immunized with OVA+CpG+Montanide, or minimal essential medium, had positive cultures. Following mating, 80% (16/20) of mice vaccinated with MOMP+CpG+Montanide, and 85% (17/20) of animals inoculated intranasally with live C. muridarum carried embryos in both uterine horns. No protection against infertility was observed in mice immunized with MOMP and CpG+Alum or OVA. In conclusion, this is the first time that a subunit vaccine has been shown to elicit a protective immune response in the highly susceptible C3H/HeN strain of mice against an upper genital challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Olga V Tatarenkova
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Sciences I, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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Chlamydia trachomatis In Vivo to In Vitro Transition Reveals Mechanisms of Phase Variation and Down-Regulation of Virulence Factors. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26207372 PMCID: PMC4514472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis demands culture in cell-lines, but the adaptive process behind the in vivo to in vitro transition is not understood. We assessed the genomic and transcriptomic dynamics underlying C. trachomatis in vitro adaptation of strains representing the three disease groups (ocular, epithelial-genital and lymphogranuloma venereum) propagated in epithelial cells over multiple passages. We found genetic features potentially underlying phase variation mechanisms mediating the regulation of a lipid A biosynthesis enzyme (CT533/LpxC), and the functionality of the cytotoxin (CT166) through an ON/OFF mechanism. We detected inactivating mutations in CT713/porB, a scenario suggesting metabolic adaptation to the available carbon source. CT135 was inactivated in a tropism-specific manner, with CT135-negative clones emerging for all epithelial-genital populations (but not for LGV and ocular populations) and rapidly increasing in frequency (~23% mutants per 10 passages). RNA-sequencing analyses revealed that a deletion event involving CT135 impacted the expression of multiple virulence factors, namely effectors known to play a role in the C. trachomatis host-cell invasion or subversion (e.g., CT456/Tarp, CT694, CT875/TepP and CT868/ChlaDub1). This reflects a scenario of attenuation of C. trachomatis virulence in vitro, which may take place independently or in a cumulative fashion with the also observed down-regulation of plasmid-related virulence factors. This issue may be relevant on behalf of the recent advances in Chlamydia mutagenesis and transformation where culture propagation for selecting mutants/transformants is mandatory. Finally, there was an increase in the growth rate for all strains, reflecting gradual fitness enhancement over time. In general, these data shed light on the adaptive process underlying the C. trachomatis in vivo to in vitro transition, and indicates that it would be prudent to restrict culture propagation to minimal passages and check the status of the CT135 genotype in order to avoid the selection of CT135-negative mutants, likely originating less virulent strains.
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Animal models for studying female genital tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. Infect Immun 2013; 81:3060-7. [PMID: 23836817 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00357-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen. It is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the world, with more than 100 million new cases of genital tract infections with C. trachomatis occurring each year. Animal models are indispensable for the study of C. trachomatis infections and the development and evaluation of candidate vaccines. In this paper, the most commonly used animal models to study female genital tract infections with C. trachomatis will be reviewed, namely, the mouse, guinea pig, and nonhuman primate models. Additionally, we will focus on the more recently developed pig model.
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