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Frohns A, Stojanovic M, Barisani-Asenbauer T, Kuratli J, Borel N, Inic-Kanada A. Effects of water-filtered infrared A and visible light (wIRA/VIS) radiation on heat- and stress-responsive proteins in the retina and cornea of guinea pigs. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2021; 224:112306. [PMID: 34562830 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Water-filtered infrared A and visible light (wIRA/VIS), shown to reduce chlamydial infections in vitro and in vivo, might represent an innovative therapeutic approach against trachoma, a neglected tropical disease caused by ocular infection with the bacterium C. trachomatis. In this in vivo study, we assessed the impact of wIRA radiation in combination with VIS (wavelength range 595-1400 nm, intensity 2100 W/m2) on the retina and cornea in a guinea pig animal model of inclusion conjunctivitis. We investigated the effects 19 days after wIRA/VIS irradiation by comparing a single and double wIRA/VIS treatment with a sham control. By immunolabeling and western blot analyses of critical heat- and stress-responsive proteins, we could not detect wIRA/VIS-induced changes in their expression pattern. Also, immunolabeling of specific retinal marker proteins revealed no changes in their expression pattern caused by the treatment. Our preclinical study suggests wIRA/VIS as a promising and safe therapeutic tool to treat ocular chlamydial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Talin Barisani-Asenbauer
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jasmin Kuratli
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, (IVPZ) and Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicole Borel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, (IVPZ) and Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aleksandra Inic-Kanada
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Characteristics of Chlamydia suis Ocular Infection in Pigs. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091103. [PMID: 34578134 PMCID: PMC8470092 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia (C.) suis can often be isolated from conjunctival swab specimens from pigs with conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis. In the field, it is assumed to be a multifactorial disease triggered by immunosuppressing factors. This is the first experimental study to provoke clinical signs of conjunctivitis in pigs after C. suis primary mono-infection. Five six-week-old male piglets, free of ocular chlamydia shedding and seronegative for Chlamydia, were conjunctivally infected with the C. suis-type strain S45 (1 × 109 inclusion forming units), while four piglets served as negative controls. The infection group developed clinical signs of conjunctivitis with a peak in the first week post-infection. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed the presence of Chlamydia not only in the conjunctival epithelium, but also in the enlarged lacrimal glands, lungs, and intestine. No circulating antibodies could be detected during the whole study period of three weeks, although three different test systems were applied as follows: the complement fixation test, MOMP-based Chlamydiaceae ELISA, and PmpC-based C. suis ELISA. Meanwhile, high numbers of IFN-γ-producing lymphocytes within PBMC were seen after C. suis re-stimulation 14 days post-infection. Hence, these data suggest that entry via the eye may not elicit immunological responses comparable to other routes of chlamydial infections.
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Stojanovic M, Lukic I, Marinkovic E, Kovacevic A, Miljkovic R, Tobias J, Schabussova I, Zlatović M, Barisani-Asenbauer T, Wiedermann U, Inic-Kanada A. Cross-Reactive Effects of Vaccines: Heterologous Immunity between Tetanus and Chlamydia. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040719. [PMID: 33271962 PMCID: PMC7712554 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines can have heterologous effects on the immune system, i.e., effects other than triggering an immune response against the disease targeted by the vaccine. We investigated whether monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific for tetanus could cross-react with Chlamydia and confer heterologous protection against chlamydial infection. The capability of two tetanus-specific mAbs, namely mAb26 and mAb51, to prevent chlamydial infection has been assessed: (i) in vitro, by performing a neutralization assay using human conjunctival epithelial (HCjE) cells infected with Chlamydia trachomatis serovar B, and (ii) in vivo, by using a guinea pig model of Chlamydiacaviae-induced inclusion conjunctivitis. The mAb26 has been superior in comparison with mAb51 in the prevention of chlamydial infection in HCjE cells. The mAb26 has conferred ≈40% inhibition of the infection, compared to less than 5% inhibition in the presence of the mAb51. In vivo, mAb26 significantly diminished ocular pathology intensity in guinea pigs infected with C. caviae compared to either the mAb51-treated or sham-treated guinea pigs. Our data provide insights that tetanus immunization generates antibodies which induce heterologous chlamydial immunity and promote protection beyond the intended target pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijana Stojanovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Ivana Lukic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Emilija Marinkovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Ana Kovacevic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Radmila Miljkovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia; (M.S.); (I.L.); (E.M.); (A.K.); (R.M.)
| | - Joshua Tobias
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
| | - Irma Schabussova
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
| | - Mario Zlatović
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Talin Barisani-Asenbauer
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
| | - Ursula Wiedermann
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
| | - Aleksandra Inic-Kanada
- Center for Pathophysiology Infectiology and Immunology, Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (I.S.); (T.B.-A.); (U.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +43-1-40160-33-154
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Borel N, Sauer-Durand AM, Hartel M, Kuratli J, Vaupel P, Scherr N, Pluschke G. wIRA: hyperthermia as a treatment option for intracellular bacteria, with special focus on Chlamydiae and Mycobacteria. Int J Hyperthermia 2020; 37:373-383. [PMID: 32319834 DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2020.1751312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the last century is alarming and calls for alternative, nonchemical treatment strategies. Thermal medicine uses heat for the treatment of infectious diseases but its use in facultative and obligate intracellular bacteria remains poorly studied. In this review, we summarize previous research on reducing the infectious burden of Mycobacterium ulcerans and Chlamydia trachomatis by using water-filtered infrared A-radiation (wIRA), a special form of heat radiation with high tissue penetration and low thermal load on the skin surface. Mycobacterium ulcerans is a thermosensitive bacterium causing chronic necrotizing skin disease. Therefore, previous data on wIRA-induced improvement of wound healing and reduction of wound infections is summarized first. Then, pathogenesis and treatment of infections with M. ulcerans causing Buruli ulcer and of those with C. trachomatis infecting the ocular conjunctiva and resulting in blinding trachoma are discussed. Both bacteria cause neglected tropical diseases and have similar geographical distributions. Results of previous in vitro and in vivo studies using wIRA on M. ulcerans and C. trachomatis infections are presented. Finally, technical aspects of using wIRA in patients are critically reviewed and open questions driving future research are highlighted. In conclusion, wIRA is a promising tool for reducing infectious burden due to intracellular bacteria such as M. ulcerans and C. trachomatis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Borel
- Infection Pathology Unit, Department of Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty and Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Mark Hartel
- Clinic for Visceral Surgery, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
| | - Jasmin Kuratli
- Infection Pathology Unit, Department of Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty and Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), Institute of Veterinary Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Vaupel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg i.B, Germany
| | - Nicole Scherr
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gerd Pluschke
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
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Inic-Kanada A, Stojanovic M, Miljkovic R, Stein E, Filipovic A, Frohns A, Zöller N, Kuratli J, Barisani-Asenbauer T, Borel N. Water-filtered Infrared A and visible light (wIRA/VIS) treatment reduces Chlamydia caviae-induced ocular inflammation and infectious load in a Guinea pig model of inclusion conjunctivitis. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2020; 209:111953. [PMID: 32653859 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2020.111953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Trachoma is a devastating neglected tropical disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and the leading global cause of infectious blindness. Although antibiotic treatment against trachoma is efficient (SAFE strategy), additional affordable therapeutic strategies are of high interest. Water-filtered infrared A and visible light (wIRA/VIS) irradiation has proven to reduce chlamydial infectivity in vitro and ex vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether wIRA/VIS can reduce chlamydial infection load and/or ocular pathology in vivo, in a guinea pig model of inclusion conjunctivitis. Guinea pigs were infected with 1 × 106 inclusion-forming units/eye of Chlamydia caviae via the ocular conjunctiva on day 0. In infected animals, wIRA/VIS irradiation (2100 W/m2) was applied on day 2 (single treatment) and on days 2 and 4 (double treatment) post-infection (pi). wIRA/VIS reduced the clinical pathology score on days 7 and 14 pi and the conjunctival chlamydial load on days 2, 4, 7, and 14 pi in comparison with C. caviae-infected, not irradiated, controls. Furthermore, numbers of chlamydial inclusions were decreased in wIRA/VIS treated C. caviae-infected guinea pigs on day 21 pi compared to C. caviae-infected, non-irradiated, controls. Double treatment with wIRA/VIS (days 2 and 4 pi) was more efficient than a single treatment on day 2 pi. wIRA/VIS treatment did neither induce macroscopic nor histologic changes in ocular tissues. Our results indicate that wIRA/VIS shows promising efficacy to reduce chlamydial infectivity in vivo without causing irradiation related pathologies in the follow-up period. wIRA/VIS irradiation is a promising approach to reduce trachoma transmission and pathology of ocular chlamydial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Inic-Kanada
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | | | | | | | - Ana Filipovic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera - TORLAK, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Nadja Zöller
- Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jasmin Kuratli
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Talin Barisani-Asenbauer
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole Borel
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Inic-Kanada A, Stein E, Stojanovic M, Schuerer N, Ghasemian E, Filipovic A, Marinkovic E, Kosanovic D, Barisani-Asenbauer T. Effects of iota-carrageenan on ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in vitro and in vivo. JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY 2018; 30:2601-2610. [PMID: 30147240 PMCID: PMC6096786 DOI: 10.1007/s10811-018-1435-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Ocular chlamydial infections with the ocular serovars A, B, Ba, and C of Chlamydia trachomatis represent the world's leading cause of infectious blindness. Carrageenans are naturally occurring, sulfated polysaccharides generally considered safe for food and topical applications. Carrageenans can inhibit infection caused by a variety of viruses and bacteria. To investigate whether iota-carrageenan (I-C) isolated from the red alga Chondrus crispus could prevent ocular chlamydial infection, we assessed if targeted treatment of the conjunctival mucosa with I-C affects chlamydial attachment, entry, and replication in the host cell. Immortalized human conjunctival epithelial cells were treated with I-C prior to C. trachomatis infection and analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy. In vivo effects were evaluated in an ocular guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis model. Ocular pathology was graded daily, and chlamydial clearance was investigated. Our study showed that I-C reduces the infectivity of C. trachomatis in vitro. In vivo results showed a slight reduced ocular pathology and significantly less shedding of infectious elementary bodies by infected animals. Our results indicate that I-C could be a promising agent to reduce the transmission of ocular chlamydial infection and opens perspectives to develop prophylactic approaches to block C. trachomatis entry into the host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Inic-Kanada
- OCUVAC – Center of Ocular Inflammation and Infection, Laura Bassi Centres of Expertise, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Stein
- OCUVAC – Center of Ocular Inflammation and Infection, Laura Bassi Centres of Expertise, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marijana Stojanovic
- Department of Research and Development, Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera – TORLAK, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nadine Schuerer
- OCUVAC – Center of Ocular Inflammation and Infection, Laura Bassi Centres of Expertise, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ehsan Ghasemian
- OCUVAC – Center of Ocular Inflammation and Infection, Laura Bassi Centres of Expertise, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ana Filipovic
- Department of Research and Development, Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera – TORLAK, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Emilija Marinkovic
- Department of Research and Development, Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera – TORLAK, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dejana Kosanovic
- Department of Research and Development, Institute of Virology, Vaccines and Sera – TORLAK, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Talin Barisani-Asenbauer
- OCUVAC – Center of Ocular Inflammation and Infection, Laura Bassi Centres of Expertise, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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The effect of infectious dose on humoral and cellular immune responses in Chlamydophila caviae primary ocular infection. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180551. [PMID: 28678871 PMCID: PMC5498042 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Following infection, the balance between protective immunity and immunopathology often depends on the initial infectious load. Several studies have investigated the effect of infectious dose; however, the mechanism by which infectious dose affects disease outcomes and the development of a protective immune response is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate how the infectious dose modulates the local and systemic humoral and the cellular immune responses during primary ocular chlamydial infection in the guinea pig animal model. Guinea pigs were infected by ocular instillation of a Chlamydophila caviae-containing eye solution in the conjunctival sac in three different doses: 1×102, 1×104, and 1×106 inclusion forming units (IFUs). Ocular pathology, chlamydial clearance, local and systemic C. caviae-specific humoral and cellular immune responses were assessed. All inocula of C. caviae significantly enhanced the local production of C. caviae-specific IgA in tears, but only guinea pigs infected with the higher doses showed significant changes in C. caviae-specific IgA levels in vaginal washes and serum. On complete resolution of infection, the low dose of C. caviae did not alter the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ cells within guinea pigs’ submandibular lymph node (SMLN) lymphocytes while the higher doses increased the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ cells within the SMLN lymphocytes. A significant negative correlation between pathology intensity and the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cells within SMLN lymphocyte pool at selected time points post-infection was recorded for both 1×104, and 1×106 IFU infected guinea pigs. The relevance of the observed dose-dependent differences on the immune response should be further investigated in repeated ocular chlamydial infections.
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