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Lu Y, Wu Q, Wang L, Ji L. Chlamydia trachomatis enhances HPV persistence through immune modulation. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:229. [PMID: 38378486 PMCID: PMC10880247 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09094-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common sexually transmitted infections globally, and CT infection can enhance HPV persistence. Epidemiological analysis has shown that patients with CT/HPV coinfection have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer and exhibit more rapid progression to cervical cancer than patients with HPV infection alone. However, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that CT infection supports HPV persistence by further suppressing the functions of Langerhans cells (LCs); in particular, CT further activates the PI3K pathway and inhibits the MAPK pathways in LCs, and these pathways are frequently involved in the regulation of immune responses. CT/HPV coinfection also impairs LC functions by reducing the antigen-presenting ability and density of LCs. Moreover, CT/HPV coinfection can alter T-cell subsets, resulting in fewer CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and more infiltrating Tregs. Moreover, CT/HPV coinfection decreases the CD4 + /CD8 + T cell ratio to below 1, coinfection also induces greater T lymphocytes' apoptosis than HPV infection, thus impairing cell-mediated immunity and accelerating the progress to cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Lu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital , Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200199, China.
| | - Qi Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Zhabei Central Hospital, Shanghai, 200070, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Zhabei Central Hospital, Shanghai, 200070, China
| | - Lingting Ji
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Zhabei Central Hospital, Shanghai, 200070, China
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Morici LA, McLachlan JB. Non-mucosal vaccination strategies to enhance mucosal immunity. VACCINE INSIGHTS 2023; 2:229-236. [PMID: 37881504 PMCID: PMC10599649 DOI: 10.18609/vac.2023.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the need for improved vaccines that can elicit long-lasting mucosal immunity. Although mucosal delivery of vaccines represents a plausible method to enhance mucosal immunity, recent studies utilizing intradermal vaccine delivery or incorporation of unique adjuvants suggest that mucosal immunity may be achieved by vaccination via non-mucosal routes. In this expert insight, we highlight emerging evidence from pre-clinical studies that warrant further mechanistic investigation to improve next-generation vaccines against mucosal pathogens, especially those with pandemic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A Morici
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - James B McLachlan
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Pal S, Slepenkin A, Felgner J, Huw Davies D, Felgner P, de la Maza LM. Evaluation of Four Adjuvant Combinations, IVAX-1, IVAX-2, CpG-1826+Montanide ISA 720 VG and CpG-1018+Montanide ISA 720 VG, for Safety and for Their Ability to Elicit Protective Immune Responses in Mice against a Respiratory Challenge with Chlamydia muridarum. Pathogens 2023; 12:863. [PMID: 37513710 PMCID: PMC10383793 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need to produce a vaccine for Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Here, using the Chlamydia muridarum major outer membrane protein (MOMP) as an antigen, four adjuvant combinations IVAX-1 (MPLA+CpG-1018+AddaVax), IVAX-2 (MPLA+CpG-1018+AS03), CpG-1826+Montanide ISA 720 VG (CpG-1826+Mont) and CpG-1018+Montanide ISA 720 VG (CpG-1018+Mont), were tested for their local reactogenicity and ability to elicit protection in BALB/c mice against a respiratory challenge with C. muridarum. Immunization with IVAX-1 or IVAX-2 induced no significant local reactogenicity following intramuscular immunization. In contrast, vaccines containing Montanide resulted in the formation of a local granuloma. Based on the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio in serum, the four adjuvant combinations elicited Th1-biased responses. IVAX-1 induced the highest in vitro neutralization titers while CpG-1018+Mont stimulated the lowest. As determined by the levels of IFN-γ produced by T-cells, the most robust cellular immune responses were elicited in mice immunized with CpG-1018+Mont, while the weakest responses were mounted by mice receiving IVAX-1. Following the respiratory challenge, mice immunized with CpG-1018+Mont lost the least amount of body weight and had the lowest number of C. muridarum inclusion-forming units (IFUs) in the lungs, while those receiving IVAX-2 had lost the most weight and had the highest number of IFUs in their lungs. Animals vaccinated with CpG-1826+Mont had the lightest lungs while those immunized using IVAX-2 had the heaviest. To conclude, due to their safety and adjuvanticity, IVAX formulations should be considered for inclusion in human vaccines against Chlamydia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Anatoli Slepenkin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jiin Felgner
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - D Huw Davies
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Philip Felgner
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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de la Maza LM, Darville TL, Pal S. Chlamydia trachomatis vaccines for genital infections: where are we and how far is there to go? Expert Rev Vaccines 2021; 20:421-435. [PMID: 33682583 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2021.1899817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen in the world. Antibiotic treatment does not prevent against reinfection and a vaccine is not yet available. AREAS COVERED We focus the review on the progress made of our understanding of the immunological responses required for a vaccine to elicit protection, and on the antigens, adjuvants, routes of immunization and delivery systems that have been tested in animal models. PubMed and Google Scholar were used to search publication on these topics for the last 5 years and recent Reviews were examined. EXPERT OPINION The first Phase 1 clinical trial of a C. trachomatis vaccine to protect against genital infections was successfully completed. We expect that, in the next five years, additional vaccine clinical trials will be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M de la Maza
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical Sciences, I, Room D440 University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Toni L Darville
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sukumar Pal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Medical Sciences, I, Room D440 University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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D Helble J, N Starnbach M. T cell responses to Chlamydia. Pathog Dis 2021; 79:6164867. [PMID: 33693620 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The high prevalence of infection and lack of a vaccine indicate a critical knowledge gap surrounding the host's response to infection and how to effectively generate protective immunity. The immune response to C. trachomatis is complex, with cells of the adaptive immune system playing a crucial role in bacterial clearance. Here, we discuss the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response to Chlamydia, the importance of antigen specificity and the role of memory T cells during the recall response. Ultimately, a deeper understanding of protective immune responses is necessary to develop a vaccine that prevents the inflammatory diseases associated with Chlamydia infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Helble
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Stone BJ, Steele KH, Men H, Srodulski SJ, Bryda EC, Fath-Goodin A. A Nonsurgical Embryo Transfer Technique for Fresh and Cultured Blastocysts in Rats. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE 2020; 59:488-495. [PMID: 32787997 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The use of a nonsurgical embryo transfer technique in rodents eliminates the potential pain, distress, and health complications that may result from a surgical procedure and as such, represents a refinement in rodent assisted reproductive techniques. A nonsurgical technique has not been previously developed for use with rat embryos. Here we describe an efficient method to deliver either fresh or cultured blastocyst stage embryos to the uterine horn of pseudopregnant female rats using a rat nonsurgical embryo transfer (rNSET) device. The rNSET device is composed of a Teflon catheter and a hub that attaches to a 2 μL pipette. Oxytocin is used to dilate the cervix before the delivery of blastocysts, allowing passage of the rNSET catheter directly into the uterine horn for embryo delivery. The efficiency of recovery of pups after nonsurgical embryo transfer is similar to the efficiency after surgical embryo transfer. Furthermore, the technique is not stressful to the subjects, as demonstrated by the absence of a decrease in weight or increase in fecal corticosterone level in recipients of embryos delivered nonsurgically, without the use of anesthesia or analgesia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hongsheng Men
- Rat Resource and Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | - Elizabeth C Bryda
- Rat Resource and Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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Helble JD, Gonzalez RJ, von Andrian UH, Starnbach MN. Gamma Interferon Is Required for Chlamydia Clearance but Is Dispensable for T Cell Homing to the Genital Tract. mBio 2020; 11:e00191-20. [PMID: 32184237 PMCID: PMC7078466 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00191-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
While there is no effective vaccine against Chlamydia trachomatis infection, previous work has demonstrated the importance of C. trachomatis-specific CD4+ T cells (NR1 T cells) in pathogen clearance. Specifically, NR1 T cells have been shown to be protective in mice, and this protection depends on the host's ability to sense the cytokine gamma interferon (IFN-γ). However, it is unclear what role NR1 production or sensing of IFN-γ plays in T cell homing to the genital tract or T cell-mediated protection against C. trachomatis Using two-photon microscopy and flow cytometry, we found that naive wild-type (WT), IFN-γ-/-, and IFN-γR-/- NR1 T cells specifically home to sections in the genital tract that contain C. trachomatis We also determined that protection against infection requires production of IFN-γ from either NR1 T cells or endogenous cells, further highlighting the importance of IFN-γ in clearing C. trachomatis infection.IMPORTANCEChlamydia trachomatis is an important mucosal pathogen that is the leading cause of sexually transmitted bacterial infections in the United States. Despite this, there is no vaccine currently available. In order to develop such a vaccine, it is necessary to understand the components of the immune response that can lead to protection against this pathogen. It is well known that antigen-specific CD4+ T cells are critical for Chlamydia clearance, but the contexts in which they are protective or not protective are unknown. Here, we aimed to characterize the importance of gamma interferon production and sensing by T cells and the effects on the immune response to C. trachomatis Our work here helps to define the contexts in which antigen-specific T cells can be protective, which is critical to our ability to design an effective and protective vaccine against C. trachomatis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Helble
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rodrigo J Gonzalez
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ulrich H von Andrian
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael N Starnbach
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Zheng N, Sun L, Pang G, Zha X, Niu W, Tan L, Zhang H, Bai H. Chlamydia muridarum infection induces CD4+ T cells apoptosis via PI3K/AKT signal pathway. Pathog Dis 2020; 77:5492259. [PMID: 31107947 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftz029] [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: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptosis is essential for the homeostatic control of the lymphocytes number during the development of an immune response to an invasive microorganism. CD4+ T cells play a major role in homeostasis of the immune system and are sufficient to confer protection against Chlamydia muridarum (Cm) infection in mice. The present study demonstrated that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) p110δ mRNA and phosphorylation of protein kinase B (p-AKT) level were significantly increased in lung cells and spleen cells at day 3 and day 7 post-infection, p-AKT level was inhibited when adding PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Moreover, Cm infection induced high levels of IL-2/IL-2Rα in CD4+ T cells, which may relate to PI3K/AKT signal pathway activation. We observed that Cm infection significantly induced apoptosis of CD4+ T cells. The related apoptosis proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 uneven expression levels were induced in CD4+ T cells by Cm infection. These findings provided in vivo and in vitro evidence that Cm infection induces CD4+ T cells apoptosis possibly via PI3K/AKT signal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningbo Zheng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Lida Sun
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Gaoju Pang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zha
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Wenhao Niu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Lu Tan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Hong Bai
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070, China
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Memory CD4 + T Cells in Immunity and Autoimmune Diseases. Cells 2020; 9:cells9030531. [PMID: 32106536 PMCID: PMC7140455 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T helper (Th) cells play central roles in immunity in health and disease. While much is known about the effector function of Th cells in combating pathogens and promoting autoimmune diseases, the roles and biology of memory CD4+ Th cells are complex and less well understood. In human autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), there is a critical need to better understand the function and biology of memory T cells. In this review article we summarize current concepts in the field of CD4+ T cell memory, including natural history, developmental pathways, subsets, and functions. Furthermore, we discuss advancements in the field of the newly-described CD4+ tissue-resident memory T cells and of CD4+ memory T cells in autoimmune diseases, two major areas of important unresolved questions in need of answering to advance new vaccine design and development of novel treatments for CD4+ T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.
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Keck J, Chambers JP, Kancharla A, Bashir DH, Henley L, Schenkel K, Castillo K, Neal Guentzel M, Gupta R, Arulanandam BP. The Role of MicroRNA-155 in Chlamydia muridarum Infected lungs. Microbes Infect 2020; 22:360-365. [PMID: 32084556 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Our laboratory has investigated the role of an evolutionarily conserved RNA species called microRNAs (miRs) in regulation of anti-chlamydial protective immunity. MiRs including miR-155 expressed in specific immune effector cells are critical for antigen specific protective immunity and IFN-γ production. Using miR-155 deficient mice, and a murine pulmonary model for chlamydial infection, we report here 1) the effect of host miR-155 on bacterial burden, and 2) identify probable immune genes regulated by miR-155.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon Keck
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - James P Chambers
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Aravind Kancharla
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Dona Haj Bashir
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Laura Henley
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Katherine Schenkel
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Kevin Castillo
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - M Neal Guentzel
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Rishein Gupta
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA.
| | - Bernard P Arulanandam
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA.
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Li Y, Wang C, Sun Z, Xiao J, Yan X, Chen Y, Yu J, Wu Y. Simultaneous Intramuscular And Intranasal Administration Of Chitosan Nanoparticles-Adjuvanted Chlamydia Vaccine Elicits Elevated Protective Responses In The Lung. Int J Nanomedicine 2019; 14:8179-8193. [PMID: 31632026 PMCID: PMC6790120 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s218456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chlamydia psittaci is a zoonotic bacteria closely associated with psittacosis/ornithosis. Vaccination has been recognized as the best way to inhibit the spread of C. psittaci due to the majority ignored of infections. The optimal Chlamydia vaccine was obstructed by the defect of single immunization route and the lack of availability of nontoxic and valid adjuvants. Methods In this study, we developed a novel immunization strategy, simultaneous (SIM) intramuscular (IM) and intranasal (IN) administration of a C. psittaci antigens (Ags) adjuvanted with chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs). And SIM-CNPs-Ags were used to determine the different types of immune response and the protective role in vivo. Results CNPs-Ags with zeta-potential values of 13.12 mV and of 276.1 nm showed excellent stability and optimal size for crossing the mucosal barrier with high 71.7% encapsulation efficiency. SIM-CPN-Ags mediated stronger humoral and mucosal responses by producing meaningfully high levels of IgG and secretory IgA (sIgA) antibodies. The SIM route also led to Ags-specific T-cell responses and increased IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α and IL-17A in the splenocyte supernatants. Following respiratory infection with C. psittaci, we found that SIM immunization remarkably reduced bacterial load and the degree of inflammation in the infected lungs and made for a lower level of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-6. Furthermore, SIM vaccination with CNPs-Ags had obviously inhibited C. psittaci disseminating to various organs in vivo. Conclusion SIM immunization with CNPs-adjuvanted C. psittaci Ags may present a novel strategy for the development of a vaccine against the C. psittaci infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Li
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuan Wang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenjie Sun
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoliang Yan
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Chen
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Yu
- Department of Experimental Zoology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yimou Wu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Institution of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, People's Republic of China
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12
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Intracellular Pathogens: Host Immunity and Microbial Persistence Strategies. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:1356540. [PMID: 31111075 PMCID: PMC6487120 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1356540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases caused by pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites are ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide by the World Health Organization. Despite tremendous improvements in global public health since 1950, a number of challenges remain to either prevent or eradicate infectious diseases. Many pathogens can cause acute infections that are effectively cleared by the host immunity, but a subcategory of these pathogens called "intracellular pathogens" can establish persistent and sometimes lifelong infections. Several of these intracellular pathogens manage to evade the host immune monitoring and cause disease by replicating inside the host cells. These pathogens have evolved diverse immune escape strategies and overcome immune responses by residing and multiplying inside host immune cells, primarily macrophages. While these intracellular pathogens that cause persistent infections are phylogenetically diverse and engage in diverse immune evasion and persistence strategies, they share common pathogen type-specific mechanisms during host-pathogen interaction inside host cells. Likewise, the host immune system is also equipped with a diverse range of effector functions to fight against the establishment of pathogen persistence and subsequent host damage. This article provides an overview of the immune effector functions used by the host to counter pathogens and various persistence strategies used by intracellular pathogens to counter host immunity, which enables their extended period of colonization in the host. The improved understanding of persistent intracellular pathogen-derived infections will contribute to develop improved disease diagnostics, therapeutics, and prophylactics.
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13
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Qiao S, Zhang H, Zha X, Niu W, Liang J, Pang G, Tang Y, Liu T, Zhao H, Wang Y, Bai H. Endogenous IL-17A mediated neutrophil infiltration by promoting chemokines expression during chlamydial lung infection. Microb Pathog 2019; 129:106-111. [PMID: 30703475 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia is an obligate intracellular bacteria, which can infect cervix, urethra, conjunctiva, joints, lungs and so on. Neutrophils are important in host protection against microbial invasion during the early phase of infection. Here, to investigate the mechanism of IL-17A in recruiting neutrophils during Chlamydia muridarum (Cm) lung infection, we introduced IL-17A antibodies and IL-17-/- mice to confirm the effect of IL-17A on influencing neutrophil attractants expressions. From the analysis of the data, we found that showed that Cm infection could upregulate the expression of neutrophil-related chemokines such as KC, MIP-2 and IL-6, as well as adhesion molecules including ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. With blocking endogenous IL-17A, the upregulated MIP-2 and IL-6 were decreased, which induced less neutrophil recruitment in lung. Comparing to WT mice, IL-17-/- mice showed decreased infiltration of neutrophils in lung during the early phase of Cm infection, which were accordant with decreased chemokines, such as KC, MIP-2 and IL-6 expression. Whereas, the expression of adhesion molecules including ICAM and VCAM-1 in lungs were significantly increased in IL-17-/- mice comparing to WT mice during Cm lung infection. The results demonstrated that IL-17A influenced neutrophil infiltration by affecting expression of chemokines and adhesion molecules during the early phase of chlamydial lung infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Qiao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Xiaoyu Zha
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Wenhao Niu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Juyou Liang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Gaoju Pang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Yingying Tang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Tengli Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Huili Zhao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Hong Bai
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin, PR China.
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14
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Kaufhold RM, Boddicker MA, Field JA, Lucas BJ, Antonello JM, Espeseth AS, Skinner JM, Heinrichs JH, Smith JG. Evaluating Potential Vaccine Antigens in both the <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> and <i>Chlamydia muridarum</i> Intravaginal Mouse Challenge Models. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.4236/wjv.2019.92004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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15
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Lausen M, Christiansen G, Bouet Guldbæk Poulsen T, Birkelund S. Immunobiology of monocytes and macrophages during Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Microbes Infect 2018; 21:73-84. [PMID: 30528899 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2018.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Infections caused by the intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis are a global health burden affecting more than 100 million people annually causing damaging long-lasting infections. In this review, we will present and discuss important aspects of the interaction between C. trachomatis and monocytes/macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Lausen
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 3b, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark.
| | - Gunna Christiansen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Wilhelms Meyers Allé 4, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Svend Birkelund
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 3b, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark
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16
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Mackern-Oberti JP, Motrich RD, Damiani MT, Saka HA, Quintero CA, Sánchez LR, Moreno-Sosa T, Olivera C, Cuffini C, Rivero VE. Male genital tract immune response against Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Reproduction 2018; 154:R99-R110. [PMID: 28878094 DOI: 10.1530/rep-16-0561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Revised: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most commonly reported agent of sexually transmitted bacterial infections worldwide. This pathogen frequently leads to persistent, long-term, subclinical infections, which in turn may cause severe pathology in susceptible hosts. This is in part due to the strategies that Chlamydia trachomatis uses to survive within epithelial cells and to evade the host immune response, such as subverting intracellular trafficking, interfering signaling pathways and preventing apoptosis. Innate immune receptors such as toll-like receptors expressed on epithelial and immune cells in the genital tract mediate the recognition of chlamydial molecular patterns. After bacterial recognition, a subset of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are continuously released by epithelial cells. The innate immune response is followed by the initiation of the adaptive response against Chlamydia trachomatis, which in turn may result in T helper 1-mediated protection or in T helper 2-mediated immunopathology. Understanding the molecular mechanisms developed by Chlamydia trachomatis to avoid killing and host immune response would be crucial for designing new therapeutic approaches and developing protective vaccines. In this review, we focus on chlamydial survival strategies and the elicited immune responses in male genital tract infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Pablo Mackern-Oberti
- Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo. IMBECU-CONICETMendoza, Argentina .,Instituto de Fisiología. Facultad de Ciencias MédicasUniversidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Rubén Darío Motrich
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria Teresa Damiani
- Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza. IHEM-CONICETFacultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Héctor Alex Saka
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Leonardo Rodolfo Sánchez
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Tamara Moreno-Sosa
- Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo. IMBECU-CONICETMendoza, Argentina
| | - Carolina Olivera
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Cuffini
- Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. VanellaFacultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Virginia Elena Rivero
- Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología CIBICI-CONICETDepartamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
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17
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Ogendi BMO, Bakshi RK, Gupta K, Kapil R, Brown LT, Jordan SJ, Sabbaj S, Press CG, Lee JY, Geisler WM. T cell phenotypes in women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection and influence of treatment on phenotype distributions. Microbes Infect 2018; 20:176-184. [PMID: 29287991 PMCID: PMC5851839 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
T cell phenotypes involved in the immune response to Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) have not been fully elucidated in humans. We evaluated differences in T cell phenotypes between CT-infected women and CT-seronegative controls and investigated changes in T cell phenotype distributions after CT treatment and their association with reinfection. We found a higher expression of T cell activation markers (CD38+HLA-DR+), T helper type 1 (Th1)- and Th2-associated effector phenotypes (CXCR3+CCR5+ and CCR4+, respectively), and T cell homing marker (CCR7) for both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CT-infected women. At follow-up after treatment of infected women, there were a lower proportion of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing these markers. These findings suggest a dynamic interplay of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CT infection, and once the infection is treated, these cell markers return to basal expression levels. In women without reinfection, a significantly higher proportion of CD8+ T cells co-expressing CXCR3 with CCR5 or CCR4 at follow-up was detected compared to women with reinfection, suggesting they might play some role in adaptive immunity. Our study elucidated changes in T cell phenotypes during CT infection and after treatment, broadening our understanding of adaptive immune mechanisms in human CT infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M O Ogendi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Rakesh K Bakshi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Kanupriya Gupta
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Richa Kapil
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - LaDraka T Brown
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Stephen J Jordan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Steffanie Sabbaj
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Christen G Press
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jeannette Y Lee
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - William M Geisler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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18
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Dixit S, Sahu R, Verma R, Duncan S, Giambartolomei GH, Singh SR, Dennis VA. Caveolin-mediated endocytosis of the Chlamydia M278 outer membrane peptide encapsulated in poly(lactic acid)-Poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles by mouse primary dendritic cells enhances specific immune effectors mediated by MHC class II and CD4 + T cells. Biomaterials 2018; 159:130-145. [PMID: 29324305 PMCID: PMC5801148 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
We previously developed a Chlamydia trachomatis nanovaccine (PPM) by encapsulating a chlamydial M278 peptide within poly(lactic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) biodegradable nanoparticles that immunopotentiated Chlamydia-specific immune effector responses in mice. Herein, we investigated the mechanistic interactions of PPM with mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) for its uptake, trafficking, and T cell activation. Our results reveal that PPM triggered enhanced expression of effector cytokines and chemokines, surface activation markers (Cd1d2, Fcgr1), pathogen-sensing receptors (TLR2, Nod1), co-stimulatory (CD40, CD80, CD86) and MHC class I and II molecules. Co-culturing of PPM-primed DCs with T cells from C. muridarum vaccinated mice yielded an increase in Chlamydia-specific immune effector responses including CD3+ lymphoproliferation, CD3+CD4+ IFN-γ-secreting cells along with CD3+CD4+ memory (CD44high and CD62Lhigh) and effector (CD44high and CD62Llow) phenotypes. Intracellular trafficking analyses revealed an intense expression and colocalization of PPM predominantly in endosomes. PPM also upregulated the transcriptional and protein expression of the endocytic mediator, caveolin-1 in DCs. More importantly, the specific inhibition of caveolin-1 led to decreased expression of PPM-induced cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules. Our investigation shows that PPM provided enhancement of uptake, probably by exploiting the caveolin-mediated endocytosis pathway, endosomal processing, and MHC II presentation to immunopotentiate Chlamydia-specific immune effector responses mediated by CD4+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Dixit
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA
| | - Rajnish Sahu
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA
| | - Richa Verma
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA
| | - Skyla Duncan
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA
| | - Guillermo H Giambartolomei
- Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Shree R Singh
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA
| | - Vida A Dennis
- Center for NanoBiotechnology Research, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36104, USA.
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19
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Hafner LM, Timms P. Development of a Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine for urogenital infections: novel tools and new strategies point to bright future prospects. Expert Rev Vaccines 2017; 17:57-69. [PMID: 29264970 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2018.1417044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The "cloaked" bacterial pathogen that is Chlamydia trachomatis continues to cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that adversely affect the health and well-being of children, adolescents and adults globally. The reproductive disease sequelae follow unresolved or untreated chronic or recurrent asymptomatic C.trachomatis infections of the lower female genital tract (FGT) and can include pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and ectopic pregnancy. Tubal Factor Infertility (TFI) can also occur since protective and long-term natural immunity to chlamydial infection is incomplete, allowing for ascension of the organism to the upper FGT. Developing countries including the WHO African (8.3 million cases) and South-East Asian regions (7.2 million cases) bear the highest burden of chlamydial STIs. AREAS COVERED Genetic advances for Chlamydia have provided tools for transformation (including dendrimer-enabled transformation), lateral gene transfer and chemical mutagenesis. Recent progress in these areas is reviewed with a focus on vaccine development for Chlamydia infections of the female genital tract. EXPERT COMMENTARY A vaccine that can elicit immuno-protective responses whilst avoiding adverse immuno-pathologic host responses is required. The current technological advances in chlamydial genetics and proteomics, as well as novel and improved adjuvants and delivery systems, provide new hope that the elusive chlamydial vaccine is an imminent and realistic goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise M Hafner
- a School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Faculty of Health , Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- b Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering , University of the Sunshine Coast , Maroochydore DC , Australia
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20
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Jiang J, Maxion H, Champion CI, Liu G, Kelly KA. Expression of CXCR3 on Adaptive and Innate Immune Cells Contributes Oviduct Pathology throughout Chlamydia muridarum Infection. JOURNAL OF MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH 2017; 1:104. [PMID: 29552679 PMCID: PMC5851010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
CXCR3 is a chemokine receptor expressed on a wide range of leukocytes, and it is involved in leukocyte migration throughout the blood and lymphatics. Specifically, CXCR3 is required for lymphocyte homing to the genital mucosa. When compared to wild type (WT) mice, CXCR3 deficiency (CXCR3-/-) mice infected with Chlamydia muridarum (C. muridarum) did not display impaired clearance and resolution of infection. However, they possessed significantly higher bacterial burden and lower levels of IFN-γ-producing TH1 cells. The knockouts also demonstrated a significant decrease in the level of activated conventional dendritic cells in the GT, ultimately leading to the decrease in activated TH1 cells. In addition, few activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which possess an inflammatory phenotype, were found in the lymph node of infected mice. This reduction in pDCs may be responsible for the decrease in neutrophils, which are acute inflammatory cells, in the CXCR3-/- mice. Due to the significantly reduced level of acute inflammation, these mice also possess a decrease in dilation and pathology in the oviduct. This demonstrates that the CXCR3-/- mice possess the ability to clear C. muridarum infections, but they do so without the increased inflammation and pathology in the GT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Jiang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave. CHS 1P-177, LA, CA 90095, USA
| | - Heather Maxion
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave. CHS 1P-177, LA, CA 90095, USA
| | - Cheryl I. Champion
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave. CHS 1P-177, LA, CA 90095, USA
| | - Guangchao Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave. CHS 1P-177, LA, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kathleen A. Kelly
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 10833 Le Conte Ave. CHS 1P-177, LA, CA 90095, USA
- California Nano Systems, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
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21
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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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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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Chlamydial Type III Secretion System Needle Protein Induces Protective Immunity against Chlamydia muridarum Intravaginal Infection. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:3865802. [PMID: 28459057 PMCID: PMC5385227 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3865802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis imposes serious health problems and causes infertility. Because of asymptomatic onset, it often escapes antibiotic treatment. Therefore, vaccines offer a better option for the prevention of unwanted inflammatory sequelae. The existence of serologically distinct serovars of C. trachomatis suggests that a vaccine will need to provide protection against multiple serovars. Chlamydia spp. use a highly conserved type III secretion system (T3SS) composed of structural and effector proteins which is an essential virulence factor. In this study, we expressed the T3SS needle protein of Chlamydia muridarum, TC_0037, an ortholog of C. trachomatis CdsF, in a replication-defective adenoviral vector (AdTC_0037) and evaluated its protective efficacy in an intravaginal Chlamydia muridarum model. For better immune responses, we employed a heterologous prime-boost immunization protocol in which mice were intranasally primed with AdTC_0037 and subcutaneously boosted with recombinant TC_0037 and Toll-like receptor 4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A mixed in a squalene nanoscale emulsion. We found that immunization with TC_0037 antigen induced specific humoral and T cell responses, decreased Chlamydia loads in the genital tract, and abrogated pathology of upper genital organs. Together, our results suggest that TC_0037, a highly conserved chlamydial T3SS protein, is a good candidate for inclusion in a Chlamydia vaccine.
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Dendritic cell function and pathogen-specific T cell immunity are inhibited in mice administered levonorgestrel prior to intranasal Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37723. [PMID: 27892938 PMCID: PMC5125275 DOI: 10.1038/srep37723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing popularity of levonorgestrel (LNG)-releasing intra-uterine systems for long-acting reversible contraception provides strong impetus to define immunomodulatory properties of this exogenous progestin. In initial in vitro studies herein, we found LNG significantly impaired activation of human dendritic cell (DCs) and their capacity to promote allogeneic T cell proliferation. In follow-up studies in a murine model of intranasal Chlamydia trachomatis infection, we analogously found that LNG treatment prior to infection dramatically reduced CD40 expression in DCs isolated from draining lymph nodes at 2 days post infection (dpi). At 12 dpi, we also detected significantly fewer CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the lungs of LNG-treated mice. This inhibition of DC activation and T cell expansion in LNG-treated mice also delayed chlamydial clearance and the resolution of pulmonary inflammation. Conversely, administering agonist anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody to LNG-treated mice at 1 dpi restored lung T cell numbers and chlamydial burden at 12 dpi to levels seen in infected controls. Together, these studies reveal that LNG suppresses DC activation and function, and inhibits formation of pathogen-specific T cell immunity. They also highlight the need for studies that define in vivo effects of LNG use on human host response to microbial pathogens.
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Finethy R, Coers J. Sensing the enemy, containing the threat: cell-autonomous immunity to Chlamydia trachomatis. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 40:875-893. [PMID: 28201690 PMCID: PMC5975928 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is the etiological agent of the most common sexually transmitted infection in North America and Europe. Medical complications resulting from genital C. trachomatis infections arise predominantly in women where the initial infections often remain asymptomatic and thus unrecognized. Untreated asymptomatic infections in women can ascend into the upper genital tract and establish persistence, ultimately resulting in extensive scarring of the reproductive organs, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and ectopic pregnancies. Previously resolved C. trachomatis infections fail to provide protective immune memory, and no effective vaccine against C. trachomatis is currently available. Critical determinants of the pathogenesis and immunogenicity of genital C. trachomatis infections are cell-autonomous immune responses. Cell-autonomous immunity describes the ability of an individual host cell to launch intrinsic immune circuits that execute the detection, containment and elimination of cell-invading pathogens. As an obligate intracellular pathogen C. trachomatis is constantly under attack by cell-intrinsic host defenses. Accordingly, C. trachomatis evolved to subvert and co-opt cell-autonomous immune pathways. This review will provide a critical summary of our current understanding of cell-autonomous immunity to C. trachomatis and its role in shaping host resistance, inflammation and adaptive immunity to genital C. trachomatis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Finethy
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jörn Coers
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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26
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Gupta R, Arkatkar T, Keck J, Koundinya GKL, Castillo K, Hobel S, Chambers JP, Yu JJ, Guentzel MN, Aigner A, Christenson LK, Arulanandam BP. Antigen specific immune response in Chlamydia muridarum genital infection is dependent on murine microRNAs-155 and -182. Oncotarget 2016; 7:64726-64742. [PMID: 27556515 PMCID: PMC5323111 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-chlamydial immunity involves efficient presentation of antigens (Ag) to effector cells resulting in Ag-specific immune responses. There is limited information on inherent underlying mechanisms regulating these events. Previous studies from our laboratory have established that select microRNAs (miRs) function as molecular regulators of immunity in Chlamydia muridarum (Cm) genital infection. In this report, we investigated immune cell type-specific miRs, i.e. miR-155 and -182, and the role in Ag-specific immunity. We observed significant up-regulation of miR-155 in C57BL/6 bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDC), and miR-182 in splenic Ag-specific CD4+ T-cells. Using mimics and inhibitors, we determined that miR-155 contributed to BMDC activation following Cm infection. Co-cultures of miR-155 over-expressed in BMDC and miR-182 over-expressed in Ag-specific CD4+ T-cells, or miR-155-/- BMDC with miR-182 inhibitor treated Ag-specific CD4+ T-cells, resulted in IFN-γ production comparable to Ag-specific CD4+ T-cells isolated from Cm infected mice. Additionally, miR-182 was significantly up-regulated in intranasally vaccinated mice protected against Cm infection. In vivo depletion of miR-182 resulted in reduction in Ag-specific IFN-γ and genital pathology in Cm infected mice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report an interaction of miR-155 (in Cm infected DC) and miR-182 (in CD4+ T-cell) resulting in Ag specific immune responses against genital Cm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishein Gupta
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Tanvi Arkatkar
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jonathon Keck
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Gopala Krishna Lanka Koundinya
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kevin Castillo
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sabrina Hobel
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Leipzig, HärtelstraΔe, Leipzig, Germany
| | - James P. Chambers
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jieh-Juen Yu
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - M. Neal Guentzel
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Achim Aigner
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Leipzig, HärtelstraΔe, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lane K. Christenson
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Bernard P. Arulanandam
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Wali S, Gupta R, Yu JJ, Mfuh A, Gao X, Guentzel MN, Chambers JP, Abu Bakar S, Zhong G, Arulanandam BP. Guinea pig genital tract lipidome reveals in vivo and in vitro regulation of phosphatidylcholine 16:0/18:1 and contribution to Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D infectivity. Metabolomics 2016; 12:74. [PMID: 27642272 PMCID: PMC5022361 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-016-0998-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), is the leading cause of sexually transmitted infections worldwide. Host transcriptomic- or proteomic profiling studies have identified key molecules involved in establishment of Ct infection or the generation of anti Ct-immunity. However, the contribution of the host metabolome is not known. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of host metabolites in genital Ct infection. METHODS We used high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and mapped lipid profiles in genital swabs obtained from female guinea pigs at days 3, 9, 15, 30 and 65 post Ct serovar D intravaginal infection. RESULTS Across all time points assessed, 13 distinct lipid species including choline, ethanolamine and glycerol were detected. Amongst these metabolites, phosphatidylcholine (PC) was the predominant phospholipid detected from animals actively shedding bacteria i.e., at 3, 9, and 15 days post infection. However, at days 30 and 65 when the animals had cleared the infection, PC was observed to be decreased compared to previous time points. Mass spectrometry analyses of PC produced in guinea pigs (in vivo) and 104C1 guinea pig cell line (in vitro) revealed distinct PC species following Ct D infection. Amongst these, PC 16:0/18:1 was significantly upregulated following Ct D infection (p < 0.05, >twofold change) in vivo and in vitro infection models investigated in this report. Exogenous addition of PC 16:0/18:1 resulted in significant increase in Ct D in Hela 229 cells. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates a role for host metabolite, PC 16:0/18:1 in regulating genital Ct infection in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shradha Wali
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Rishein Gupta
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Jieh-Juen Yu
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Adelphe Mfuh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Xiaoli Gao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - M. Neal Guentzel
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - James P. Chambers
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Sazaly Abu Bakar
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai Kuala Lumpur, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Guangming Zhong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7702 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Bernard P. Arulanandam
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
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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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Lagae S, Dumont A, Vanrompay D. Examination of the in vivo immune response elicited by Chlamydia psittaci in chickens. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2015; 170:54-64. [PMID: 26848049 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2015.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
It has since long been reported that Chlamydia psittaci is endemic in the poultry industry in Belgium as well as in other European Countries. This can lead to major economic losses because of a lowered egg production, higher mortality and carcass condemnation. Nowadays, expensive antibiotic treatments are necessary to reduce mortality rate but this can lead to antibiotic resistance. Moreover, C. psittaci can easily be transmitted from birds to humans through the inhalation of pathogen-containing aerosols derived from feces and eye and nostril secretions. Therefore, the need for an efficient vaccine against C. psittaci is augmenting. However, more research is needed to develop such a vaccine. Knowledge on the immune mechanisms of C. psittaci infections is crucial to understand the pathogenesis of, and immunity to this zoonotic pathogen and to act as a basis for vaccination studies. This study has investigated the in vivo immune response evoked by C. psittaci in his natural host, the chicken. Excretion of C. psittaci, chlamydial antibody detection in sera, blood immune cells and the mRNA expression levels of different cytokines, chemokines and one Toll-like receptor were investigated in different organs (conchae, lungs, airsacs, harderian gland, bursa fabricius and spleen) at different time points post infection (6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 4 d, 6d, 8 d, 10 d, 14 d and 21 d). A higher frequency of cytotoxic CD8(+) T cells and monocytes/macrophages expressing the MHC II molecule were observed in the infected group. Several cytokines and chemokines are significantly upregulated during infection but remarkably also significantly downregulated, especially at late time points. Furthermore, the only Toll-like receptor investigated, TLR4, was also significant upregulated in several organs. This study can contribute on the elucidation on how C. psittaci interact with his host, leading to the developing of targets for effective vaccination and therapeutic strategies for infection.
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The contribution of Chlamydia-specific CD8⁺ T cells to upper genital tract pathology. Immunol Cell Biol 2015; 94:208-12. [PMID: 26323581 PMCID: PMC4747851 DOI: 10.1038/icb.2015.74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Genital chlamydial infections lead to severe upper reproductive tract pathology in a subset of untreated women. We demonstrated previously that TNF-α producing CD8+ T cells contribute significantly to chlamydial upper genital tract pathology in female mice. Additionally, we observed minimal chlamydial oviduct pathology develops in OT-1 transgenic (OT-1) mice, wherein CD8+ T cell repertoire is restricted to recognition of the ovalbumin peptide Ova257–264, suggesting that non-Chlamydia-specific CD8+ T cells may not be responsible for chlamydial pathogenesis. In the current study, we evaluated whether antigen-specific CD8+ T cells mediate chlamydial pathology. Groups of wild type C57BL/6J (WT), OT-1 mice, and OT-1 mice replete with WT CD8+ T cells (1×106 cells/mouse intravenously) were infected intravaginally with C. muridarum (5 × 104 IFU/mouse). Serum total anti-Chlamydia antibody and total splenic anti-Chlamydia IFN-γ and TNF-α responses were comparable among the three groups of animals. However, Chlamydia-specific IFN-γ and TNF-α production from purified splenic CD8+ T cells of OT-1 mice was minimal, whereas responses in OT-1 mice replete with WT CD8+ T cells were comparable to those in WT animals. Vaginal chlamydial clearance was comparable between the three groups of mice. Importantly, the incidence and severity of oviduct and uterine horn pathology was significantly reduced in OT-1 mice but reverted to WT levels in OT-1 mice replete with WT CD8+ T cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Chlamydia-specific CD8+ T cells contribute significantly to upper genital tract pathology.
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