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Favaroni A, Trinks A, Weber M, Hegemann JH, Schnee C. Pmp Repertoires Influence the Different Infectious Potential of Avian and Mammalian Chlamydia psittaci Strains. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:656209. [PMID: 33854490 PMCID: PMC8039305 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.656209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia psittaci is the etiological agent of chlamydiosis in birds and can be transmitted to humans, causing severe systemic disease. C. psittaci infects a broad range of hosts; strains are isolated not only from birds but also from mammals, where they seem to have a reduced infectious and zoonotic potential. Comparative analysis of chlamydial genomes revealed the coding sequences of polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps) to be highly variable regions. Pmps are characterized as adhesins in C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae and are immunoreactive proteins in several Chlamydia species. Thus, Pmps are considered to be associated with tissue tropism and pathogenicity. C. psittaci harbors 21 Pmps. We hypothesize that the different infectious potential and host tropism of avian and mammalian C. psittaci strains is dependent on differences in their Pmp repertoires. In this study, we experimentally confirmed the different virulence of avian and mammalian strains, by testing the survival rate of infected embryonated eggs and chlamydiae dissemination in the embryos. Further, we investigated the possible involvement of Pmps in host tropism. Analysis of pmp sequences from 10 C. psittaci strains confirmed a high degree of variation, but no correlation with host tropism was identified. However, comparison of Pmp expression profiles from different strains showed that Pmps of the G group are the most variably expressed, also among avian and mammalian strains. To investigate their functions, selected Pmps were recombinantly produced from one avian and one mammalian representative strain and their adhesion abilities and relevance for the infection of C. psittaci strains in avian and mammalian cells were tested. For the first time, we identified Pmp22D, Pmp8G, and OmcB as relevant adhesins, essential during infection of C. psittaci strains in general. Moreover, we propose Pmp17G as a possible key player for host adaptation, as it could only bind to and influence the infection in avian cells, but it had no relevant impact towards infection in mammalian cells. These data support the hypothesis that distinct Pmp repertoires in combination with specific host factors may contribute to host tropism of C. psittaci strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Favaroni
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander Trinks
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Weber
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
| | - Johannes H Hegemann
- Institute of Functional Microbial Genomics, Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Christiane Schnee
- Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany
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Gitsels A, Van Lent S, Sanders N, Vanrompay D. Chlamydia: what is on the outside does matter. Crit Rev Microbiol 2020; 46:100-119. [PMID: 32093536 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2020.1730300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
This review summarises major highlights on the structural biology of the chlamydial envelope. Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria, characterised by a unique biphasic developmental cycle. Depending on the stage of their lifecycle, they appear in the form of elementary or reticulate bodies. Since these particles have distinctive functions, it is not surprising that their envelope differs in lipid as well as in protein content. Vice versa, by identifying surface proteins, specific characteristics of the particles such as rigidity or immunogenicity may be deduced. Detailed information on the bacterial membranes will increase our understanding on the host-pathogen interactions chlamydiae employ to survive and grow and might lead to new strategies to battle chlamydial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlieke Gitsels
- Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sarah Van Lent
- Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Niek Sanders
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Laboratory of Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Proteomic characterisation of the Chlamydia abortus outer membrane complex (COMC) using combined rapid monolithic column liquid chromatography and fast MS/MS scanning. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224070. [PMID: 31647835 PMCID: PMC6812762 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Data are presented on the identification and partial characterisation of proteins comprising the chlamydial outer membrane complex (COMC) fraction of Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus)—the aetiological agent of ovine enzootic abortion. Inoculation with the COMC fraction is known to be highly effective in protecting sheep against experimental challenge and its constituent proteins are therefore of interest as potential vaccine candidates. Sodium N-lauroylsarcosine (sarkosyl) insoluble COMC proteins resolved by SDS-PAGE were interrogated by mass spectrometry using combined rapid monolithic column liquid chromatography and fast MS/MS scanning. Downstream database mining of processed tandem MS data revealed the presence of 67 proteins in total, including putative membrane associated proteins (n = 36), such as porins, polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps), chaperonins and hypothetical membrane proteins, in addition to others (n = 22) that appear more likely to have originated from other subcellular compartments. Electrophoretic mobility data combined with detailed amino acid sequence information derived from secondary fragmentation spectra for 8 Pmps enabled peptides originating from protein cleavage fragments to be mapped to corresponding regions of parent precursor molecules yielding preliminary evidence in support of endogenous post-translational processing of outer membrane proteins in C. abortus. The data presented here will facilitate a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of C. abortus infection and represent an important step towards the elucidation of the mechanisms of immunoprotection against C. abortus infection and the identification of potential target vaccine candidate antigens.
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Sigalova OM, Chaplin AV, Bochkareva OO, Shelyakin PV, Filaretov VA, Akkuratov EE, Burskaia V, Gelfand MS. Chlamydia pan-genomic analysis reveals balance between host adaptation and selective pressure to genome reduction. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:710. [PMID: 31510914 PMCID: PMC6740158 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6059-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlamydia are ancient intracellular pathogens with reduced, though strikingly conserved genome. Despite their parasitic lifestyle and isolated intracellular environment, these bacteria managed to avoid accumulation of deleterious mutations leading to subsequent genome degradation characteristic for many parasitic bacteria. RESULTS We report pan-genomic analysis of sixteen species from genus Chlamydia including identification and functional annotation of orthologous genes, and characterization of gene gains, losses, and rearrangements. We demonstrate the overall genome stability of these bacteria as indicated by a large fraction of common genes with conserved genomic locations. On the other hand, extreme evolvability is confined to several paralogous gene families such as polymorphic membrane proteins and phospholipase D, and likely is caused by the pressure from the host immune system. CONCLUSIONS This combination of a large, conserved core genome and a small, evolvable periphery likely reflect the balance between the selective pressure towards genome reduction and the need to adapt to escape from the host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga M. Sigalova
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, RAS, Moscow, Russia
- current address: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrei V. Chaplin
- Microbiology and Virology Department, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga O. Bochkareva
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, RAS, Moscow, Russia
- current address: Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Pavel V. Shelyakin
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, RAS, Moscow, Russia
- Center for Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Evgeny E. Akkuratov
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- current address: Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Applied Physics, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Valentina Burskaia
- Center for Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail S. Gelfand
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems, RAS, Moscow, Russia
- Center for Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Computer Science, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
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Van Lent S, De Vos WH, Huot Creasy H, Marques PX, Ravel J, Vanrompay D, Bavoil P, Hsia RC. Analysis of Polymorphic Membrane Protein Expression in Cultured Cells Identifies PmpA and PmpH of Chlamydia psittaci as Candidate Factors in Pathogenesis and Immunity to Infection. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162392. [PMID: 27631978 PMCID: PMC5025070 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The polymorphic membrane protein (Pmp) paralogous families of Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia abortus are putative targets for Chlamydia vaccine development. To determine whether this is also the case for Pmp family members of C. psittaci, we analyzed transcription levels, protein production and localization of several Pmps of C. psittaci. Pmp expression profiles were characterized using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), immunofluorescence (IF) and immuno-electron microscopy (IEM) under normal and stress conditions. We found that PmpA was highly produced in all inclusions as early as 12 hpi in all biological replicates. In addition, PmpA and PmpH appeared to be unusually accessible to antibody as determined by both immunofluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy. Our results suggest an important role for these Pmps in the pathogenesis of C. psittaci, and make them promising candidates in vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Van Lent
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Winnok H. De Vos
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Heather Huot Creasy
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of America
| | - Patricia X. Marques
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of America
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of America
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Patrik Bavoil
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, Maryland, Unites States of America
| | - Ru-ching Hsia
- University of Maryland, Baltimore, Electron Microscopy Core Imaging Facility, Maryland, Unites States of America
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Analysis of Humoral Immune Responses to Surface and Virulence-Associated Chlamydia abortus Proteins in Ovine and Human Abortions by Use of a Newly Developed Line Immunoassay. J Clin Microbiol 2016; 54:1883-1890. [PMID: 27194684 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00351-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia abortus is the causative agent of enzootic abortion of ewes and poses a significant zoonotic risk for pregnant women. Using proteomic analysis and gene expression library screening in a previous project, we identified potential virulence factors and candidates for serodiagnosis, of which nine were scrutinized here with a strip immunoassay. We have shown that aborting sheep exhibited a strong antibody response to surface (MOMP, MIP, Pmp13G) and virulence-associated (CPAF, TARP, SINC) antigens. While the latter disappeared within 18 weeks following abortion in a majority of the animals, antibodies to surface proteins persisted beyond the duration of the study. In contrast, nonaborting experimentally infected sheep developed mainly antibodies to surface antigens (MOMP, MIP, Pmp13G), all of which did not persist. We were also able to detect antibodies to these surface antigens in C abortus-infected women who had undergone septic abortion, whereas a group of shepherds and veterinarians with occupational exposure to C abortus-infected sheep revealed only sporadic immune responses to the antigens selected. The most specific antigen for the serodiagnosis of human C abortus infections was Pmp13G, which showed no cross-reactivity with other chlamydiae infecting humans. We suggest that Pmp13G-based serodiagnosis accomplished by the detection of antibodies to virulence-associated antigens such as CPAF, TARP, and SINC may improve the laboratory diagnosis of human and animal C abortus infections.
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Vasilevsky S, Stojanov M, Greub G, Baud D. Chlamydial polymorphic membrane proteins: regulation, function and potential vaccine candidates. Virulence 2015; 7:11-22. [PMID: 26580416 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2015.1111509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pmps (Polymorphic Membrane Proteins) are a group of membrane bound surface exposed chlamydial proteins that have been characterized as autotransporter adhesins and are important in the initial phase of chlamydial infection. These proteins all contain conserved GGA (I, L, V) and FxxN tetrapeptide motifs in the N-terminal portion of each protein. All chlamydial species express Pmps. Even in the chlamydia-related bacteria Waddlia chondrophila, a Pmp-like adhesin has been identified, demonstrating the importance of Pmps in Chlamydiales biology. Chlamydial species vary in the number of pmp genes and their differentially regulated expression during the infectious cycle or in response to stress. Studies have also demonstrated that Pmps are able to induce innate immune functional responses in infected cells, including production of IL-8, IL-6 and MCP-1, by activating the transcription factor NF-κB. Human serum studies have indicated that although anti-Pmp specific antibodies are produced in response to a chlamydial infection, the response is variable depending on the Pmp protein. In C. trachomatis, PmpB, PmpC, PmpD and PmpI were the proteins eliciting the strongest immune response among adolescents with and without pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). In contrast, PmpA and PmpE elicited the weakest antibody response. Interestingly, there seems to be a gender bias for Pmp recognition with a stronger anti-Pmp reactivity in male patients. Furthermore, anti-PmpA antibodies might contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes, at least among women with PID. In vitro studies indicated that dendritic cells infected with C. muridarum were able to present PmpG and PmpF on their MHC class II receptors and T cells were able to recognize the MHC class-II bound peptides. In addition, vaccination with PmpEFGH and Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) significantly protected mice against a genital tract C. muridarum infection, suggesting that Pmps may be an important component of a multi-subunit chlamydial vaccine. Thus, Pmps might be important not only for the pathogenesis of chlamydial infection, but also as potential candidate vaccine proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Vasilevsky
- a Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Maternity; University Hospital ; Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Milos Stojanov
- a Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Maternity; University Hospital ; Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - Gilbert Greub
- b Center for Research on Intracellular Bacteria; Institute of Microbiology; Faculty of Biology and Medicine; University of Lausanne and University Hospital ; Lausanne , Switzerland
| | - David Baud
- a Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Maternity; University Hospital ; Lausanne , Switzerland
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Pilloux L, Greub G. ESCMID postgraduate technical workshop on intracellular bacteria: From biology to clinic. Microbes Infect 2014; 16:454-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2014.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Processing of Chlamydia abortus polymorphic membrane protein 18D during the chlamydial developmental cycle. PLoS One 2012; 7:e49190. [PMID: 23145118 PMCID: PMC3493501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlamydia possess a unique family of autotransporter proteins known as the Polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps). While the total number of pmp genes varies between Chlamydia species, all encode a single pmpD gene. In both Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and C. pneumoniae, the PmpD protein is proteolytically cleaved on the cell surface. The current study was carried out to determine the cleavage patterns of the PmpD protein in the animal pathogen C. abortus (termed Pmp18D). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Using antibodies directed against different regions of Pmp18D, proteomic techniques revealed that the mature protein was cleaved on the cell surface, resulting in a100 kDa N-terminal product and a 60 kDa carboxy-terminal protein. The N-terminal protein was further processed into 84, 76 and 73 kDa products. Clustering analysis resolved PmpD proteins into three distinct clades with C. abortus Pmp18D, being most similar to those originating from C. psittaci, C. felis and C. caviae. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This study indicates that C. abortus Pmp18D is proteolytically processed at the cell surface similar to the proteins of C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae. However, patterns of cleavage are species-specific, with low sequence conservation of PmpD across the genus. The absence of conserved domains indicates that the function of the PmpD molecule in chlamydia remains to be elucidated.
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