1
|
Paulet E, Contreras V, Galhaut M, Rosenkrands I, Holland M, Burton M, Dietrich J, Gallouet AS, Bosquet N, Relouzat F, Langlois S, Follmann F, Le Grand R, Labetoulle M, Rousseau A. Multimodal mucosal and systemic immune characterization of a non-human primate trachoma model highlights the critical role of local immunity during acute phase disease. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0012388. [PMID: 39093884 PMCID: PMC11333008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0012388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trachoma is a leading cause of infection-related blindness worldwide. This disease is caused by recurrent Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infections of the conjunctiva and develops in two phases: i) active (acute trachoma, characterized by follicular conjunctivitis), then long-term: ii) scarring (chronic trachoma, characterized by conjunctival fibrosis, corneal opacification and eyelid malposition). Scarring trachoma is driven by the number and severity of reinfections. The immune system plays a pivotal role in trachoma including exacerbation of the disease. Hence the immune system may also be key to developing a trachoma vaccine. Therefore, we characterized clinical and local immune response kinetics in a non-human primate model of acute conjunctival Ct infection and disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The conjunctiva of non-human primate (NHP, Cynomolgus monkeys-Macaca fascicularis-) were inoculated with Ct (B/Tunis-864 strain, B serovar). Clinical ocular monitoring was performed using a standardized photographic grading system, and local immune responses were assessed using multi-parameter flow cytometry of conjunctival cells, tear fluid cytokines, immunoglobulins, and Ct quantification. Clinical findings were similar to those observed during acute trachoma in humans, with the development of typical follicular conjunctivitis from the 4th week post-exposure to the 11th week. Immunologic analysis indicated an early phase influx of T cells in the conjunctiva and elevated interleukins 4, 8, and 5, followed by a late phase monocytic influx accompanied with a decrease in other immune cells, and tear fluid cytokines returning to initial levels. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Our NHP model accurately reproduces the clinical signs of acute trachoma, allowing for an accurate assessment of the local immune responses in infected eyes. A progressive immune response occurred for weeks after exposure to Ct, which subsided into a persistent innate immune response. An understanding of these local responses is the first step towards using the model to assess new vaccine and therapeutic strategies for disease prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Paulet
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Vanessa Contreras
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Mathilde Galhaut
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Ida Rosenkrands
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Holland
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Burton
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jes Dietrich
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Sophie Gallouet
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Nathalie Bosquet
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Francis Relouzat
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Sébastien Langlois
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Frank Follmann
- Center for Vaccine Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Roger Le Grand
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Marc Labetoulle
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Service d’Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
- Service d’Ophtalmologie, Hôpital National de la Vision des 15-20, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Rousseau
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CEA, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-immune, Hematological and Bacterial diseases (IMVA-HB/IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses & Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Service d’Ophtalmologie, Hôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
- Service d’Ophtalmologie, Hôpital National de la Vision des 15-20, IHU Foresight, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ghasemian E, Inic-Kanada A, Collingro A, Mejdoubi L, Alchalabi H, Keše D, Elshafie BE, Hammou J, Barisani-Asenbauer T. Comparison of genovars and Chlamydia trachomatis infection loads in ocular samples from children in two distinct cohorts in Sudan and Morocco. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009655. [PMID: 34370735 PMCID: PMC8376198 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Trachoma is a blinding disease caused by repeated conjunctival infection with different Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) genovars. Ct B genovars have been associated with more severe trachoma symptoms. Here, we investigated associations between Ct genovars and bacterial loads in ocular samples from two distinct geographical locations in Africa, which are currently unclear. We tested ocular swabs from 77 Moroccan children (28 with trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) and 49 healthy controls), and 96 Sudanese children (54 with TF and 42 healthy controls) with a Ct-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. To estimate bacterial loads, Ct-positive samples were further processed by multiplex real-time qPCR to amplify the chromosomal outer membrane complex B and plasmid open reading frame 2 of Ct. Genotyping was performed by PCR-based amplification of the outer membrane protein A gene (~1120 base pairs) of Ct and Sanger sequencing. Ct-positivities among the Moroccan and Sudanese patient groups were 60·7% and 31·5%, respectively. Significantly more Sudanese patients than Moroccan patients were genovar A-positive. In contrast, B genovars were significantly more prevalent in Moroccan patients than in Sudanese patients. Significantly higher Ct loads were found in samples positive for B genovars (598596) than A genovar (51005). Geographical differences contributed to the distributions of different ocular Ct genovars. B genovars may induce a higher bacterial load than A genovars in trachoma patients. Our findings emphasize the importance of conducting broader studies to elucidate if the noted difference in multiplication abilities are genovar and/or endemicity level dependent. We investigated the association between different Ct genovars, the approximate load of infection, and the distribution of Chlamydia genovars by comparing samples from one trachoma-endemic area (i.e., the city of El-Gadaref in Al Qadarif, Sudan) and one previously endemic area (i.e., the Zagora Province in Morocco), currently considered as non-endemic. This study is the first to reveal a significant difference between the genome copy numbers of Ct genovar A and B/Ba in children with TF. Evidence that Ct is still circulating in rural foci of countries like Morocco that are no longer considered endemic implies that the continuation of the trachoma surveillance must be warranted in future to avoid further spreading of Ct. The clinical significance of different infectious loads in the development of sequelae has to be determined as well as whether these differences are genovar specific or related to the given endemicity level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Ghasemian
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aleksandra Inic-Kanada
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Astrid Collingro
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lamiss Mejdoubi
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hadeel Alchalabi
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Darja Keše
- Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Jaouad Hammou
- Medicine and Pharmacy Faculty, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Talin Barisani-Asenbauer
- Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Nyari S, Booth R, Quigley BL, Waugh CA, Timms P. Therapeutic effect of a Chlamydia pecorum recombinant major outer membrane protein vaccine on ocular disease in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210245. [PMID: 30615687 PMCID: PMC6322743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia pecorum is responsible for causing ocular infection and disease which can lead to blindness in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Antibiotics are the current treatment for chlamydial infection and disease in koalas, however, they can be detrimental for the koala’s gastrointestinal tract microbiota and in severe cases, can lead to dysbiosis and death. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects provided by a recombinant chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) vaccine on ocular disease in koalas. Koalas with ocular disease (unilateral or bilateral) were vaccinated and assessed for six weeks, evaluating any changes to the conjunctival tissue and discharge. Samples were collected pre- and post-vaccination to evaluate both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. We further assessed the infecting C. pecorum genotype, host MHC class II alleles and presence of koala retrovirus type (KoRV-B). Our results clearly showed an improvement in the clinical ocular disease state of all seven koalas, post-vaccination. We observed increases in ocular mucosal IgA antibodies to whole C. pecorum elementary bodies, post-vaccination. We found that systemic cell-mediated immune responses to interferon-γ, interleukin-6 and interleukin-17A were not significantly predictive of ocular disease in koalas. Interestingly, one koala did not have as positive a clinical response (in one eye primarily) and this koala was infected with a C. pecorum genotype (E’) that was not used as part of the vaccine formula (MOMP genotypes A, F and G). The predominant MHC class II alleles identified were DAb*19, DAb*21 and DBb*05, with no two koalas identified with the same genetic sequence. Additionally, KoRV-B, which is associated with chlamydial disease outcome, was identified in two (29%) ocular diseased koalas, which still produced vaccine-induced immune responses and clinical ocular improvements post-vaccination. Our findings show promise for the use of a recombinant chlamydial MOMP vaccine for the therapeutic treatment of ocular disease in koalas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Nyari
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rosemary Booth
- Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Beerwah, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bonnie L. Quigley
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Courtney A. Waugh
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|