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Yun ZS, Zhihua S, Xuelian T, Min X, Rongjing H, Mei L. Rosmarinic acid activates the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway to regulate CD8+ T cells and autophagy to clear Chlamydia trachomatis in reproductive tract-infected mice. Mol Immunol 2024; 171:105-114. [PMID: 38820902 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2024.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases worldwide, which can cause diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease, and cervical and fallopian tube inflammation, and poses a threat to human health. Rosmarinic acid (RosA) is an active ingredient of natural products with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the role of RosA in inhibiting autophagy-regulated immune cells-CD8+ T cells via the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in a CT-infected mouse model. Mice were inoculated with CT infection solution vaginally, and the mechanistic basis of RosA treatment was established using H&E staining, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, and western blot. The key factors involved in RosA treatment were further validated using the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib. Experimental results showed that both RosA and the reference drug azithromycin could attenuate the pathological damage to the endometrium caused by CT infection; flow cytometry showed that peripheral blood CD8+ T cells increased after CT infection and decreased after treatment with RosA and the positive drug azithromycin (positive control); immunofluorescence showed that endometrial CD8 and LC3 increased after CT infection and decreased after RosA and positive drug treatment; the results of transmission electron microscopy showed that RosA and the positive drug azithromycin inhibited the accumulation of autophagosomes; western bolt experiments confirmed the activation of autophagy proteins LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ, ATG5, Beclin-1, and p62 after CT infection, as well as the inhibition of Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. RosA and azithromycin inhibition of autophagy proteins activates Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. In addition, the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib attenuated RosA's protective effect on endometrium by further activating CD8+ T cells on a CT-induced basis, while transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, and western blots showed that cobimetinib blocked ERK signals activation and further induced phagocytosis on a CT-induced basis. These data indicated that RosA can activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway to inhibit autophagy, and RosA could also regulate the activation of immune cells-CD8+T cells to protect the reproductive tract of CT-infected mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Si Yun
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Song Zhihua
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Tian Xuelian
- Clinical Medical School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xia Min
- Department of Gynecology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400021, China
| | - Hu Rongjing
- Department of Gynecology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400021, China
| | - Luo Mei
- Department of Gynecology, Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400021, China; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing college of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 402760, China; The Fourth Clinical Medical College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400021, China.
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Liu S, Zhao T, Liu Q. Vitamin D effects on Chlamydia trachomatis infection: a case-control and experimental study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1366136. [PMID: 38698906 PMCID: PMC11063265 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1366136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Vitamin D deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Chronic vitamin D deficiency causes immune system dysfunction, which increases susceptibility to pathogens such as bacteria, especially intracellular parasites, and viruses. Chlamydia trachomatis (C. t) is an obligate intracellular parasitic bacterium that causes a variety of sequelae. We speculated that vitamin D might be associated with C. t infection. This study aimed to address this gap in knowledge by investigating the relationship between vitamin D and C. t infection using both in vitro and in vivo models. Methods and results The addition of calcitriol to McCoy cell culture in vitro delayed and reduced the quantity and volume of inclusions compared to the control group. Macrophages of peritoneally lavaged mice co-cultured with McCoy decreased the infection rate and delayed the appearance of inclusions. In mice models of vitamin D deficiency, mice in the VD-group exhibited more severe genital tract inflammation and a longer duration of infection after inoculation with C. t in the genital tract. Supplementing these mice with vitamin D3 during treatment enhanced the therapeutic effect of antibiotics. We also conducted a case-control study involving 174 C. t-positive patients (95 males and 79 females) and 380 healthy volunteers (211 males and 169 females) aged 20-49 from January 2016 to March 15, 2017. Serum 25-(OH)D concentration was measured by assessing morning fasting blood samples of healthy volunteers and C. t-positive patients 1 day before antibiotic treatment and the next day after one course of treatment. The patients were followed up for 1 month and evaluated for recovery. The results showed that vitamin D deficiency was a risk factor for C. t infection and treatment failure. Conclusion In summary, findings from experimental and clinical studies indicate a close association between vitamin D levels and C. t infection and treatment outcomes. Given the affordability and safety of vitamin D, both healthy individuals and patients should focus on vitamin D intake. Vitamin D supplementation could enhance treatment success and should be used as an adjunctive therapy alongside antibiotic therapy for C. t infections, pending confirmation in larger, prospective, randomized controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Liu
- Institute of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Tianwei Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Quanzhong Liu
- Institute of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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Song J, Dong X, Lan Y, Lu Y, Liu X, Kang X, Huang Z, Yue B, Liu Y, Ma W, Zhang L, Yan H, He M, Fan Z, Guo T. Interpretation of vaginal metagenomic characteristics in different types of vaginitis. mSystems 2024; 9:e0137723. [PMID: 38364107 PMCID: PMC10949516 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01377-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Although vaginitis is closely related to vaginal microecology in females, the precise composition and functional potential of different types of vaginitis remain unclear. Here, metagenomic sequencing was applied to analyze the vaginal flora in patients with various forms of vaginitis, including cases with a clue cell proportion ranging from 1% to 20% (Clue1_20), bacterial vaginitis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and BV combined with VVC (VVC_BV). Our results identified Prevotella as an important biomarker between BV and Clue1_20. Moreover, a gradual decrease was observed in the relative abundance of shikimic acid metabolism associated with bacteria producing indole as well as a decline in the abundance of Gardnerella vaginalis in patients with BV, Clue1_20, and healthy women. Interestingly, the vaginal flora of patients in the VVC_BV group exhibited structural similarities to that of the VVC group, and its potentially functional characteristics resembled those of the BV and VVC groups. Finally, Lactobacillus crispatus was found in high abundance in healthy samples, greatly contributing to the stability of the vaginal environment. For the further study of L. crispatus, we isolated five strains of L. crispatus from healthy samples and evaluated their capacity to inhibit G. vaginalis biofilms and produce lactic acid in vitro to select the potential probiotic candidate for improving vaginitis in future clinical studies. Overall, we successfully identified bacterial biomarkers of different vaginitis and characterized the dynamic shifts in vaginal flora between patients with BV and healthy females. This research advances our understanding and holds great promise in enhancing clinical approaches for the treatment of vaginitis. IMPORTANCE Vaginitis is one of the most common gynecological diseases, mostly caused by infections of pathogens such as Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis. In recent years, it has been found that the stability of the vaginal flora plays an important role in vaginitis. Furthermore, the abundant Lactobacillus-producing rich lactic acid in the vagina provides a healthy acidic environment such as Lactobacillus crispatus. The metabolites of Lactobacillus can inhibit the colonization of pathogens. Here, we collected the vaginal samples of patients with bacterial vaginitis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and BV combined with VVC to discover the differences and relationships among the different kinds of vaginitis by metagenomic sequencing. Furthermore, because of the importance of L. crispatus in promoting vaginal health, we isolated multiple strains from vaginal samples of healthy females and chose the most promising strain with potential probiotic benefits to provide clinical implications for treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarong Song
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xue Dong
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yue Lan
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yunwei Lu
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuena Kang
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhonglu Huang
- Meishan Women and Children’s Hospital, Meishan, Sichuan, China
| | - Bisong Yue
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenjin Ma
- Chenghua District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Libo Zhang
- Renshou County People’s Hospital, Renshou, Sichuan, China
| | - Haijun Yan
- Meishan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Meishan, Sichuan, China
| | - Miao He
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhenxin Fan
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Guo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Das S, Konwar BK. Influence of connatural factors in shaping vaginal microflora and ensuring its health. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 309:871-886. [PMID: 37676318 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07200-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Vaginal canal (VC) is exposed to the external environment affected by habitual factors like hygiene and sexual behaviour as well as physiological factors like puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, child birth and menopause. Healthy VC harbours beneficial microflora supported by vaginal epithelium and cervical fluid. Connatural antimicrobial peptide (AMPs) of female reproductive tract (FRT) conjunctly with these beneficial microbes provide protection from a large number of infectious diseases. Such infections may either be caused by native microbes of the VC or transitory microbes like bacteria or virus which are not a part of VC microflora. This review highlight's the role of hormones, enzymes, innate immunological factors, epithelial cells and vaginal mucus that support beneficial microbes over infectious ones thus, helping to maintain homeostasis in VC and further protect the FRT. We also discuss the prospective use of vaginal probiotics and AMPs against pathogens which can serve as a potential cure for vaginal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreaya Das
- Department of MBBT, Tezpur University, Napaam, Assam, 784028, India.
| | - Bolin K Konwar
- Department of MBBT, Tezpur University, Napaam, Assam, 784028, India
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Ghasemian E, Faal N, Pickering H, Sillah A, Breuer J, Bailey RL, Mabey D, Holland MJ. Genomic insights into local-scale evolution of ocular Chlamydia trachomatis strains within and between individuals in Gambian trachoma-endemic villages. Microb Genom 2024; 10:001210. [PMID: 38445851 PMCID: PMC10999739 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001210] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Trachoma, a neglected tropical disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) serovars A-C, is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. Africa bears the highest burden, accounting for over 86 % of global trachoma cases. We investigated Ct serovar A (SvA) and B (SvB) whole genome sequences prior to the induction of mass antibiotic drug administration in The Gambia. Here, we explore the factors contributing to Ct strain diversification and the implications for Ct evolution within the context of ocular infection. A cohort study in 2002-2003 collected ocular swabs across nine Gambian villages during a 6 month follow-up study. To explore the genetic diversity of Ct within and between individuals, we conducted whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on a limited number (n=43) of Ct-positive samples with an omcB load ≥10 from four villages. WGS was performed using target enrichment with SureSelect and Illumina paired-end sequencing. Out of 43 WGS samples, 41 provided sufficient quality for further analysis. ompA analysis revealed that 11 samples had highest identity to ompA from strain A/HAR13 (NC_007429) and 30 had highest identity to ompA from strain B/Jali20 (NC_012686). While SvB genome sequences formed two distinct village-driven subclades, the heterogeneity of SvA sequences led to the formation of many individual branches within the Gambian SvA subclade. Comparing the Gambian SvA and SvB sequences with their reference strains, Ct A/HAR13 and Ct B/Jali20, indicated an single nucleotide polymorphism accumulation rate of 2.4×10-5 per site per year for the Gambian SvA and 1.3×10-5 per site per year for SvB variants (P<0.0001). Variant calling resulted in a total of 1371 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) with a frequency >25 % in SvA sequences, and 438 SNVs in SvB sequences. Of note, in SvA variants, highest evolutionary pressure was recorded on genes responsible for host cell modulation and intracellular survival mechanisms, whereas in SvB variants this pressure was mainly on genes essential for DNA replication/repair mechanisms and protein synthesis. A comparison of the sequences between observed separate infection events (4-20 weeks between infections) suggested that the majority of the variations accumulated in genes responsible for host-pathogen interaction such as CTA_0166 (phospholipase D-like protein), CTA_0498 (TarP) and CTA_0948 (deubiquitinase). This comparison of Ct SvA and SvB variants within a trachoma endemic population focused on their local evolutionary adaptation. We found a different variation accumulation pattern in the Gambian SvA chromosomal genes compared with SvB, hinting at the potential of Ct serovar-specific variation in diversification and evolutionary fitness. These findings may have implications for optimizing trachoma control and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Ghasemian
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Nkoyo Faal
- Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, Gambia
| | - Harry Pickering
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ansumana Sillah
- National Eye Health Programme, Ministry of Health, Kanifing, Gambia
| | - Judith Breuer
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Robin L. Bailey
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - David Mabey
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Martin J. Holland
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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6
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Feng J, Janaína de Campos L, Seleem MA, Conda-Sheridan M. Synthesis and biological evaluation of sulfonylpyridine derivatives as potential anti-chlamydia agents. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 91:117401. [PMID: 37453189 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117401] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the United States and the world. This pathogen can cause health problems ranging from trachoma (blindness) to damage of the fallopian tubes or ectopic pregnancy, which can be life-threatening if not treated properly. To this day, there is no chlamydia-specific drug on the market. Previously, we reported the activity and basic structure-activity relationships (SAR) of sulfonylpyridine molecules that possess antichlamydial action. Based on those results, we prepared a new series of derivatives. Our data indicate the new analogs can halt the growth of C. trachomatis. The lead compound, 22, was more active than our previous molecules and did not affect the growth of S. aureus and E. coli, suggesting bacterial selectivity. We performed docking studies on the presumed target, the cylindrical protease of Chlamydia. The in-silico studies partially explained the in vitro biological result as well as predicted a possible binding pose in the binding pocket. The top compound displayed a good cytotoxicity profile towards mammalian cell lines and was stable in both serum and stimulated gastric fluid. The presented data suggests the sulfonylpyridines are promising and selective anti-chlamydial compounds that merit further structural optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6125, United States
| | - Luana Janaína de Campos
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6125, United States
| | - Mohamed A Seleem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6125, United States
| | - Martin Conda-Sheridan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-6125, United States.
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Zhao L, Lundy SR, Eko FO, Igietseme JU, Omosun YO. Genital tract microbiome dynamics are associated with time of Chlamydia infection in mice. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9006. [PMID: 37268696 PMCID: PMC10238418 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36130-3] [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: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that the time of Chlamydia infection was crucial in determining the chlamydial infectivity and pathogenesis. This study aims to determine whether the time of Chlamydia infection affects the genital tract microbiome. This study analyzed mice vaginal, uterine, and ovary/oviduct microbiome with and without Chlamydia infection. The mice were infected with Chlamydia at either 10:00 am (ZT3) or 10:00 pm (ZT15). The results showed that mice infected at ZT3 had higher Chlamydia infectivity than those infected at ZT15. There was more variation in the compositional complexity of the vaginal microbiome (alpha diversity) of mice infected at ZT3 than those mice infected at ZT15 throughout the infection within each treatment group, with both Shannon and Simpson diversity index values decreased over time. The analysis of samples collected four weeks post-infection showed that there were significant taxonomical differences (beta diversity) between different parts of the genital tract-vagina, uterus, and ovary/oviduct-and this difference was associated with the time of infection. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla within the microbiome in all three genital tract regions for all the samples collected during this experiment. Additionally, Firmicutes was the dominant phylum in the uterine microbiome of ZT3 Chlamydia infected mice. The results show that the time of infection is associated with the microbial dynamics in the genital tract. And this association is more robust in the upper genital tract than in the vagina. This result implies that more emphasis should be placed on understanding the changes in the microbial dynamics of the upper genital tract over the course of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Zhao
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of California, Merced, Merced, CA, USA.
| | - Stephanie R Lundy
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of STD Prevention, NCHHSTP, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Francis O Eko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joeseph U Igietseme
- Molecular Pathogenesis Laboratory, NCEZID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yusuf O Omosun
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Jiang P, Chen H, Feng X, Xie H, Jiang M, Xu D, Tang H, Zhang N, Chen J, Zhang L, Tang L. GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis restrains intracellular Chlamydia trachomatis growth in macrophages. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1116335. [PMID: 37009510 PMCID: PMC10061094 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1116335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyroptosis, a type of programmed necrosis associated with inflammatory, is a host defense mechanism against microbial infections. Although Chlamydia has been shown to induce pyroptosis, whether pyroptosis directly impacts the growth of Chlamydia has not been demonstrated. In this study, we found that C. trachomatis L2 infection of the mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells induced pyroptosis by monitoring the ultrastructural changes under transmission electron microscopy and the release of LDH and IL-1β. More importantly, this C. trachomatis-triggered pyroptosis with activation of caspase-1 and caspase-11 was also accompanied by gasdermin D (GSDMD) activation. Suppression of these two inflammatory caspases inhibited GSDMD activation. Interestingly, the C. trachomatis-triggered pyroptosis significantly inhibited the intracellular growth of C. trachomatis since inactivation of either GSDMD or caspase-1/11 significantly rescued infectious C. trachomatis yields, which suggests pyroptosis response can be utilized as an intrinsic mechanism to restrict C. trachomatis intracellular infection in addition to the well- documented extrinsic mechanisms by recruiting and enhancing inflammatory responses. This study may reveal novel targets for attenuating C. trachomatis infectivity and/or pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongzhi Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Key Laboratory of Diabetes Immunology, Ministry of Education, Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaojing Feng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Huiqi Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Mengjie Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Danning Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Haoneng Tang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ningjie Zhang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jianlin Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lingli Tang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Lingli Tang,
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Tian Q, Zhang T, Wang L, Ma J, Sun X. Gut dysbiosis contributes to chlamydial induction of hydrosalpinx in the upper genital tract. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1142283. [PMID: 37125189 PMCID: PMC10133527 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1142283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually infections that cause infertility, and its genital infection induces tubal adhesion and hydrosalpinx. Intravaginal Chlamydia muridarum infection in mice can induce hydrosalpinx in the upper genital tract and it has been used for studying C. trachomatis pathogenicity. DBA2/J strain mice were known to be resistant to the chlamydial induction of hydrosalpinx. In this study, we took advantage of this feature of DBA2/J mice to evaluate the role of antibiotic induced dysbiosis in chlamydial pathogenicity. Antibiotics (vancomycin and gentamicin) were orally administrated to induce dysbiosis in the gut of DBA2/J mice. The mice with or without antibiotic treatment were evaluated for gut and genital dysbiosis and then intravaginally challenged by C. muridarum. Chlamydial burden was tested and genital pathologies were evaluated. We found that oral antibiotics significantly enhanced chlamydial induction of genital hydrosalpinx. And the antibiotic treatment induced severe dysbiosis in the GI tract, including significantly reduced fecal DNA and increased ratios of firmicutes over bacteroidetes. The oral antibiotic did not alter chlamydial infection or microbiota in the mouse genital tracts. Our study showed that the oral antibiotics-enhanced hydrosalpinx correlated with dysbiosis in gut, providing the evidence for associating gut microbiome with chlamydial genital pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory for Birth Defect Research and Prevention, Hunan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Qi Tian,
| | - Tianyuan Zhang
- Key Lab of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Tianyuan Zhang,
| | - Luying Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jingyue Ma
- Department of Dermatovenereology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Adapen C, Réot L, Menu E. Role of the human vaginal microbiota in the regulation of inflammation and sexually transmitted infection acquisition: Contribution of the non-human primate model to a better understanding? FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2022; 4:992176. [PMID: 36560972 PMCID: PMC9763629 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2022.992176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The human vaginal microbiota has a central role in the regulation of the female reproductive tract (FRT) inflammation. Indeed, on one hand an optimal environment leading to a protection against sexually transmitted infections (STI) is associated with a high proportion of Lactobacillus spp. (eubiosis). On the other hand, a more diverse microbiota with a high amount of non-Lactobacillus spp. (dysbiosis) is linked to a higher local inflammation and an increased STI susceptibility. The composition of the vaginal microbiota is influenced by numerous factors that may lead to a dysbiotic environment. In this review, we first discuss how the vaginal microbiota composition affects the local inflammation with a focus on the cytokine profiles, the immune cell recruitment/phenotype and a large part devoted on the interactions between the vaginal microbiota and the neutrophils. Secondly, we analyze the interplay between STI and the vaginal microbiota and describe several mechanisms of action of the vaginal microbiota. Finally, the input of the NHP model in research focusing on the FRT health including vaginal microbiota or STI acquisition/control and treatment is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Adapen
- Micalis Institute, AgroParisTech, INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Louis Réot
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'énergie Atomique et aux énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Bacterial Diseases (IMVA-HB)/Department of Infectious Disease Models and Innovative Therapies (IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Elisabeth Menu
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Commissariat à l'énergie Atomique et aux énergies Alternatives (CEA), Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto-Immune, Hematological and Bacterial Diseases (IMVA-HB)/Department of Infectious Disease Models and Innovative Therapies (IDMIT), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France,Mucosal Immunity and Sexually Transmitted Infection Control (MISTIC) Group, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France,Correspondence: Elisabeth Menu
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11
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Wang L, Hou Y, Yuan H, Chen H. The role of tryptophan in Chlamydia trachomatis persistence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:931653. [PMID: 35982780 PMCID: PMC9378776 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.931653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is the most common etiological agent of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and a worldwide public health issue. The natural course with C. trachomatis infection varies widely between individuals. Some infections clear spontaneously, others can last for several months or some individuals can become reinfected, leading to severe pathological damage. Importantly, the underlying mechanisms of C. trachomatis infection are not fully understood. C. trachomatis has the ability to adapt to immune response and persist within host epithelial cells. Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) induced by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) degrades the intracellular tryptophan pool, to which C. trachomatis can respond by converting to a non-replicating but viable state. C. trachomatis expresses and encodes for the tryptophan synthase (TS) genes (trpA and trpB) and tryptophan repressor gene (trpR). Multiple genes interact to regulate tryptophan synthesis from exogenous indole, and persistent C. trachomatis can recover its infectivity by converting indole into tryptophan. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of chlamydial infections, biosynthesis and regulation of tryptophan, the relationship between tryptophan and C. trachomatis, and finally, the links between the tryptophan/IFN-γ axis and C. trachomatis persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Wang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Chenzhou No.1 People’s Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Chenzhou No.1 People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, China
| | - YingLan Hou
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Chenzhou No.1 People’s Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Chenzhou No.1 People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, China
| | - HongXia Yuan
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Chenzhou No.1 People’s Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Chenzhou No.1 People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, China
| | - Hongliang Chen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Chenzhou No.1 People’s Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Chenzhou No.1 People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hongliang Chen,
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12
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Bommana S, Richards G, Kama M, Kodimerla R, Jijakli K, Read TD, Dean D. Metagenomic Shotgun Sequencing of Endocervical, Vaginal, and Rectal Samples among Fijian Women with and without Chlamydia trachomatis Reveals Disparate Microbial Populations and Function across Anatomic Sites: a Pilot Study. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0010522. [PMID: 35579443 PMCID: PMC9241848 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00105-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitted pathogen and a global public health concern. Little is known about the microbial composition and function across endocervical, vaginal, and rectal microbiomes in the context of C. trachomatis infection. We evaluated the microbiomes of 10 age-matched high-risk Fijian women with and without C. trachomatis using metagenomic shotgun sequencing (MSS). Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus dominated the vagina and endocervix of uninfected women. Species often found in higher relative abundance in bacterial vaginosis (BV)-Mageeibacillus indolicus, Prevotella spp., Sneathia spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, and Veillonellaceae spp.-were dominant in C. trachomatis-infected women. This combination of BV pathogens was unique to Pacific Islanders compared to previously studied groups. The C. trachomatis-infected endocervix had a higher diversity of microbiota and microbial profiles that were somewhat different from those of the vagina. However, community state type III (CST-III) and CST-IV predominated, reflecting pathogenic microbiota regardless of C. trachomatis infection status. Rectal microbiomes were dominated by Prevotella and Bacteroides, although four women had unique microbiomes with Gardnerella, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Brachyspira. A high level of microbial similarity across microbiomes in two C. trachomatis-infected women suggested intragenitorectal transmission. A number of metabolic pathways in the endocervix, driven by BV pathogens and C. trachomatis to meet nutritional requirements for survival/growth, 5-fold higher than that in the vagina indicated that endocervical microbial functions are likely more diverse and complex than those in the vagina. Our novel findings provide the impetus for larger prospective studies to interrogate microbial/microbiome interactions that promote C. trachomatis infection and better define the unique genitorectal microbiomes of Pacific Islanders. IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis is the primary cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide, with a disturbing increase in annual rates. While there is a plethora of data on healthy and pathogenic vaginal microbiomes-defining microbial profiles and associations with sexually transmitted infections (STIs)-far fewer studies have similarly examined the endocervix or rectum. Further, vulnerable populations, such as Pacific Islanders, remain underrepresented in research. We investigated the microbial composition, structure, and function of these anatomic microbiomes using metagenomic shotgun sequencing among a Fijian cohort. We found, primarily among C. trachomatis-infected women, unique microbial profiles in endocervical, vaginal, and rectal microbiomes with an increased diversity and more complex microbial pathways in endocervical than vaginal microbiomes. Similarities in microbiome composition across sites for some women suggested intragenitorectal transmission. These novel insights into genitorectal microbiomes and their purported function require prospective studies to better define Pacific Islander microbiomes and microbial/microbiome interactions that promote C. trachomatis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankhya Bommana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Gracie Richards
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Mike Kama
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Suva, Fiji
| | - Reshma Kodimerla
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Kenan Jijakli
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Timothy D. Read
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Deborah Dean
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Joint Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco and University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, California, USA
- Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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13
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IL-21/IL-21R Regulates the Neutrophil-Mediated Pathologic Immune Response during Chlamydial Respiratory Infection. Mediators Inflamm 2022; 2022:4322092. [PMID: 35693111 PMCID: PMC9177341 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4322092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-21/IL-21R was documented to participate in the regulation of multiple infection and inflammation. During Chlamydia muridarum (C. muridarum) respiratory infection, our previous study had revealed that the absence of this signal induced enhanced resistance to infection with higher protective Th1/Th17 immune responses. Here, we use the murine model of C. muridarum respiratory infection and IL-21R deficient mice to further identify a novel role of IL-21/IL-21R in neutrophilic inflammation. Resistant IL-21R−/− mice showed impaired neutrophil recruitment to the site of infection. In the absence of IL-21/IL-21R, pulmonary neutrophils also exhibited reduced activation status, including lower CD64 expression, MPO activity, and neutrophil-produced protein production. These results correlated well with the decrease of neutrophil-related chemokines (KC and MIP-2), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α), and TLR/MyD88 pathway mediators (TLR2, TLR4, and MyD88) in infected lungs of IL-21R−/− mice than normal mice. Complementarily, decreased pulmonary neutrophil infiltration, activity, and levels of neutrophilic chemotactic factors and TLR/MyD88 signal in infected lungs can be corrected by rIL-21 administration. These results revealed that IL-21/IL-21R may aggravate the neutrophil inflammation through regulating TLR/MyD88 signal pathway during chlamydial respiratory infection.
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14
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Passos LG, Terraciano P, Wolf N, Oliveira FDSD, Almeida ID, Passos EP. The Correlation between Chlamydia Trachomatis and Female Infertility: A Systematic Review. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE GINECOLOGIA E OBSTETRICIA : REVISTA DA FEDERACAO BRASILEIRA DAS SOCIEDADES DE GINECOLOGIA E OBSTETRICIA 2022; 44:614-620. [PMID: 35576969 PMCID: PMC9948125 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The impact of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection on female's fertility is not completely established yet, since the level of evidence associating these factors is still weak. Hence, the goal of the present review is to contribute to a better elucidation of this matter. The electronic database chosen was the Medline/PubMed, with the last survey on May 11, 2021. Publication date was used as a filter, with the previous 5 years having been selected. The following describers were used: chlamydia trachomatis AND infertility; chlamydia trachomatis AND tubal alteration AND infertility; chlamydia AND low pregnancy rates. From the 322 studies screened, 293 that failed to meet our eligibility criteria were excluded. Subsequently, we removed seven studies for not having the possible correlation between CT infections and female infertility as its main focus, and three for being about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in general. Moreover, two studies designed as reviews were also excluded. Ergo, we included 17 studies in our qualitative analysis. The authors conducted research individually and analyzed carefully the studies selected. As we retrieved the information needed for our study through reading the texts, no contact was made with the authors of the studies selected. This systematic review corroborates the hypothesis that CT infection potentiates female infertility, as 76.47% of the included studies found a positive correlation between them. We conclude that there is an important association between CT infection and female infertility. Ergo, making CT screening part of the infertility investigation routine is relevant and has a reasonable justification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gazal Passos
- Medicine school of Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Center for Experimental Research, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Paula Terraciano
- Center for Experimental Research, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Medicine school of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Nicole Wolf
- Center for Experimental Research, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Medicine school of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Dos Santos de Oliveira
- Center for Experimental Research, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Medicine school of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Isabel de Almeida
- Fertility Center, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Pandolfi Passos
- Center for Experimental Research, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Medicine school of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.,Fertility Center, Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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15
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Heterologous prime-boost vaccination based on Polymorphic protein D protects against intravaginal Chlamydia trachomatis infection in mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6664. [PMID: 35459778 PMCID: PMC9030682 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10633-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The control of the worldwide spread of sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection urgently demands the development of a preventive vaccine. In this work, we designed a vaccine based on a fragment of polymorphic protein D (FPmpD) that proved to be immunogenic enough to generate a robust systemic and mucosal IgG humoral immune response in two strains of mice. We used a heterologous prime-boost strategy, including simultaneous systemic and mucosal administration routes. The high titers of anti-PmpD antibodies elicited by this immunization scheme did not affect murine fertility. We tested the vaccine in a mouse model of Ct intravaginal infection. Anti-PmpD antibodies displayed potent neutralizing activity in vitro and protective effects in uterine tissues in vivo. Notably, the humoral immune response of PmpD-vaccinated mice was faster and stronger than the primary immune response of non-vaccinated mice when exposed to Ct. FPmpD-based vaccine effectively reduced Ct shedding into cervicovaginal fluids, bacterial burden at the genitourinary tract, and overall infectivity. Hence, the FPmpD-based vaccine might constitute an efficient tool to protect against Ct intravaginal infection and decrease the infection spreading.
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16
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Chen H, Wang L, Zhao L, Luo L, Min S, Wen Y, Lei W, Shu M, Li Z. Alterations of Vaginal Microbiota in Women With Infertility and Chlamydia trachomatis Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:698840. [PMID: 34414130 PMCID: PMC8370387 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.698840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is the most common etiological agent of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide and causes serious health sequelae such as cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even infertility if ascending from the lower to the upper female genital tract. Previous studies have revealed the pivotal role of vaginal microbiota in susceptibility to STIs. However, alterations in the vaginal microbiota in women who are infertile and infected with C. trachomatis remain unknown. This study used metagenomic analysis of sequenced 16S rRNA gene amplicons to examine the vaginal microbial profiles of women with tubal infertility who were C. trachomatis-negative and those who were C. trachomatis-positive pre- and post-antibiotic treatment. Women who were C. trachomatis-negative and deemed healthy were recruited as references of eubiosis and dysbiosis. Women with tubal infertility and C. trachomatis infection presented a unique Lactobacillus iners-dominated vaginal microbiota rather than one dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and displayed a decrease in Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacter, Atopobium, and Streptococcus, accompanied by decreased levels of cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-10. This altered vaginal microbiota could be restored with varying degrees after standard treatment for C. trachomatis. This shift could be a predictive vaginal microbiota signature for C. trachomatis infection among females with tubal infertility, while no significant differences in phylum, class, and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) levels were observed between women with tubal infertility who were C. trachomatis-negative and healthy controls. This is the first study to provide data on the association of vaginal microbiota with C. trachomatis infection among women with tubal infertility and highlights unprecedented potential opportunities to predict C. trachomatis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Chen
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Chenzhou No.1 People's Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Li Wang
- Chenzhou No.1 People's Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Lanhua Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Lipei Luo
- Chenzhou No.1 People's Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Shuling Min
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Chenzhou No.1 People's Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Yating Wen
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Wenbo Lei
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Mingyi Shu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium whose unique developmental cycle consists of an infectious elementary body and a replicative reticulate body. Progression of this developmental cycle requires temporal control of the transcriptome. In addition to the three chlamydial sigma factors (σ66, σ28, and σ54) that recognize promoter sequences of genes, chlamydial transcription factors are expected to play crucial roles in transcriptional regulation. Here, we investigate the function of GrgA, a Chlamydia-specific transcription factor, in C. trachomatis transcriptomic expression. We show that 10 to 30 min of GrgA overexpression induces 13 genes, which likely comprise the direct regulon of GrgA. Significantly, σ66-dependent genes that code for two important transcription repressors are components of the direct regulon. One of these repressors is Euo, which prevents the expression of late genes during early phases. The other is HrcA, which regulates molecular chaperone expression and controls stress response. The direct regulon also includes a σ28-dependent gene that codes for the putative virulence factor PmpI. Furthermore, overexpression of GrgA leads to decreased expression of almost all tRNAs. Transcriptomic studies suggest that GrgA, Euo, and HrcA have distinct but overlapping indirect regulons. These findings, together with temporal expression patterns of grgA, euo, and hrcA, indicate that a transcriptional regulatory network of these three transcription factors plays critical roles in C. trachomatis growth and development. IMPORTANCEChlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen worldwide and is a leading cause of preventable blindness in underdeveloped areas as well as some developed countries. Chlamydia carries genes that encode a limited number of known transcription factors. While Euo is thought to be critical for early chlamydial development, the functions of GrgA and HrcA in the developmental cycle are unclear. Activation of euo and hrcA immediately following GrgA overexpression indicates that GrgA functions as a master transcriptional regulator. In addition, by broadly inhibiting tRNA expression, GrgA serves as a key regulator of chlamydial protein synthesis. Furthermore, by upregulating pmpI, GrgA may act as an upstream virulence determinant. Finally, genes coregulated by GrgA, Euo, and HrcA likely play critical roles in chlamydial growth and developmental control.
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18
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Pedraza L, Camargo M, Moreno-Pérez DA, Sánchez R, Del Río-Ospina L, Báez-Murcia IM, Patarroyo ME, Patarroyo MA. Identifying HLA DRB1-DQB1 alleles associated with Chlamydia trachomatis infection and in silico prediction of potentially-related peptides. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12837. [PMID: 34145318 PMCID: PMC8213839 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92294-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
HLA class II (HLA-II) genes' polymorphism influences the immune response to Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), it is considered a sexually transmitted infection. However, associations between HLA-II alleles and Ct-infection have been little explored in humans; this study was thus aimed at determining HLA-DRB1-DQB1 alleles/haplotypes' effect on Ct-infection outcome in a cohort of Colombian women. Cervical sample DNA was used as template for detecting Ct by PCR and typing HLA-DRB1-DQB1 alleles/haplotypes by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Survival models were adjusted for identifying the alleles/haplotypes' effect on Ct-outcome; bioinformatics tools were used for predicting secreted bacterial protein T- and B-cell epitopes. Sixteen HLA-DRB1 alleles having a significant effect on Ct-outcome were identified in the 262 women analysed. DRB1*08:02:01G and DRB1*12:01:01G were related to infection-promoting events. Only the DQB1*05:03:01G allele related to clearance/persistence events was found for HLA-DQB1. HLA-DRB1 allele homozygous women were associated with events having a lower probability of clearance and/or early occurrence of persistence. Twenty-seven peptides predicted in silico were associated with protective immunity against Ct; outer membrane and polymorphic membrane protein-derived peptides had regions having dual potential for being T- or B-cell epitopes. This article describes HLA-DRB1-DQB1 alleles/haplotypes related to Ct-infection resolution and the peptides predicted in silico which might probably be involved in host immune response. The data provides base information for developing future studies leading to the development of effective prevention measures against Ct-infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leidy Pedraza
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- MSc Programme in Microbiology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Milena Camargo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- Animal Science Faculty, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), 111166, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Darwin A Moreno-Pérez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- Animal Science Faculty, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), 111166, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Ricardo Sánchez
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Luisa Del Río-Ospina
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Indira M Báez-Murcia
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Manuel E Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
- Health Sciences Division, Main Campus, Universidad Santo Tomás, 110231, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Manuel A Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
- Health Sciences Division, Main Campus, Universidad Santo Tomás, 110231, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
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Tryptophan Operon Diversity Reveals Evolutionary Trends among Geographically Disparate Chlamydia trachomatis Ocular and Urogenital Strains Affecting Tryptophan Repressor and Synthase Function. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.00605-21. [PMID: 33975934 PMCID: PMC8262981 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00605-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections and blindness globally. To date, Ct urogenital strains are considered tryptophan prototrophs, utilizing indole for tryptophan synthesis within a closed-conformation tetramer comprised of two α (TrpA)- and two β (TrpB)-subunits. In contrast, ocular strains are auxotrophs due to mutations in TrpA, relying on host tryptophan pools for survival. It has been speculated that there is strong selective pressure for urogenital strains to maintain a functional operon. Here, we performed genetic, phylogenetic, and novel functional modeling analyses of 595 geographically diverse Ct ocular, urethral, vaginal, and rectal strains with complete operon sequences. We found that ocular and urogenital, but not lymphogranuloma venereum, TrpA-coding sequences were under positive selection. However, vaginal and urethral strains exhibited greater nucleotide diversity and a higher ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions [Pi(a)/Pi(s)] than ocular strains, suggesting a more rapid evolution of beneficial mutations. We also identified nonsynonymous amino acid changes for an ocular isolate with a urogenital backbone in the intergenic region between TrpR and TrpB at the exact binding site for YtgR-the only known iron-dependent transcription factor in Chlamydia-indicating that selective pressure has disabled the response to fluctuating iron levels. In silico effects on protein stability, ligand-binding affinity, and tryptophan repressor (TrpR) affinity for single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) measured by calculating free energy changes (ΔΔG) between Ct reference and mutant tryptophan operon proteins were also analyzed. We found that tryptophan synthase function was likely suboptimal compared to other bacterial tryptophan prototrophs and that a diversity of urogenital strain mutations rendered the synthase nonfunctional or inefficient. The novel mutations identified here affected active sites in an orthosteric manner but also hindered α- and β-subunit allosteric interactions from distant sites, reducing efficiency of the tryptophan synthase. Importantly, strains with mutant proteins were inclined toward energy conservation by exhibiting an altered affinity for their respective ligands compared to reference strains, indicating greater fitness. This is not surprising as l-tryptophan is one of the most energetically costly amino acids to synthesize. Mutations in the tryptophan repressor gene (trpR) among urogenital strains were similarly detrimental to function. Our findings indicate that urogenital strains are evolving more rapidly than previously recognized with mutations that impact tryptophan operon function in a manner that is energetically beneficial, providing a novel host-pathogen evolutionary mechanism for intracellular survival.IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is a major global public health concern causing sexually transmitted and ocular infections affecting over 130 million and 260 million people, respectively. Sequelae include infertility, preterm birth, ectopic pregnancy, and blindness. Ct relies on available host tryptophan pools and/or substrates to synthesize tryptophan to survive. Urogenital strains synthesize tryptophan from indole using their intact tryptophan synthase (TS). Ocular strains contain a trpA frameshift mutation that encodes a truncated TrpA with loss of TS function. We found that TS function is likely suboptimal compared to other tryptophan prototrophs and that urogenital stains contain diverse mutations that render TS nonfunctional/inefficient, evolve more rapidly than previously recognized, and impact operon function in a manner that is energetically beneficial, providing an alternative host-pathogen evolutionary mechanism for intracellular survival. Our research has broad scientific appeal since our approach can be applied to other bacteria that may explain evolution/survival in host-pathogen interactions.
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Kacerovsky M, Romero R, Pliskova L, Bolehovska R, Hornychova H, Matejkova A, Vosmikova H, Andrys C, Kolackova M, Laudański P, Pelantova V, Jacobsson B, Musilova I. Presence of Chlamydia trachomatis DNA in the amniotic fluid in women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2021; 34:1586-1597. [PMID: 31272257 PMCID: PMC7062296 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1640676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study was to assess the rate and load of amniotic fluid Chlamydia trachomatis DNA and their associations with intra-amniotic infection and intra-uterine inflammatory complications in women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). The secondary aim was to assess the short-term morbidity of newborns from PPROM pregnancies complicated by amniotic fluid C. trachomatis DNA. METHODS A retrospective study of 788 women with singleton pregnancies complicated by PPROM between 24 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks of gestation was performed. Transabdominal amniocenteses were performed at the time of admission. C. trachomatis DNA in the amniotic fluid was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using a commercial AmpliSens® C. trachomatis/Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma hominis-FRT kit, and the level of Ct DNA was quantified. RESULTS Amniotic fluid C. trachomatis DNA complicated 2% (16/788) of the PPROM pregnancies and was present in very low loads (median 57 copies DNA/mL). In addition to amniotic fluid C. trachomatis DNA, other bacteria were detected in 62% (10/16) of the C. trachomatis DNA-complicated PPROM pregnancies. Amniotic fluid C. trachomatis DNA was associated with intra-amniotic infection, histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA), and funisitis in 31%, 47%, and 33%, respectively. The presence of C. trachomatis DNA accompanied by Ureaplasma species in the amniotic fluid was associated with a higher rate of HCA than the presence of amniotic fluid C. trachomatis DNA alone. The composite neonatal morbidity in newborns from PPROM pregnancies with amniotic fluid C. trachomatis DNA was 31%. CONCLUSION The presence of C. trachomatis DNA in the amniotic fluid is a relatively rare condition in PPROM. Amniotic fluid C. trachomatis DNA in PPROM is not related to intensive intra-amniotic and intr-auterine inflammatory responses or adverse short-term neonatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian Kacerovsky
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, and Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Lenka Pliskova
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Bolehovska
- Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Hornychova
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Adela Matejkova
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Vosmikova
- The Fingerland Department of Pathology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Ctirad Andrys
- Department of Clinical immunology and Allergy, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove
| | - Martina Kolackova
- Department of Clinical immunology and Allergy, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove
| | - Piotr Laudański
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Vera Pelantova
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Bo Jacobsson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics, Domain of Health Data and Digitalisation, Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ivana Musilova
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
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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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22
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Seminal pro-inflammatory cytokines and pH are affected by Chlamydia infection in asymptomatic patients with teratozoospermia. Cent Eur J Immunol 2021; 46:76-81. [PMID: 33897287 PMCID: PMC8056351 DOI: 10.5114/ceji.2021.105247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Infection and inflammation of the reproductive tract by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) are recognized as significant risk factors for male infertility. This study aimed to evaluate CT infection and its effects on seminal parameters and cytokines in asymptomatic patients with teratozoospermia. Material and methods Semen samples from one hundred four male patients were collected, and CT detection was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The quality (volume, sperm concentration, pH, motility, morphology, and leucocytes) of the semen was measured by standard procedures recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1 β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interferon γ (IFN-γ)], as well as anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10), were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The frequency of CT infection was expressed as a percentage. Descriptive statistics were used for comparison of cytokines from infertile men, and then the Mann-Whitney U test was applied for the contrast of seminal parameters and cytokines from CT-infected versus non-CT infected men. Results A ratio of 33/104 (31.7%) patients were positive for CT infection. The ejaculate of positive CT infection was found to have increased pH (pH = 7.65 in non-CT infected vs. 7.94 CT-infected men; p = 0.026). High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in the population studied; however, infected males were noted to have high levels of IL-1 β [184.66 (0-3985.33 pg/ml), p = 0.001] and IL-6 [87.8 (0-1042.8 pg/ml), p = 0.001]. Conclusions CT infection increased seminal pH, as well as IL-1 β and IL-6 cytokines, suggesting a potential role of infection and inflammation in asymptomatic patients with teratozoospermia.
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Dabee S, Passmore JAS, Heffron R, Jaspan HB. The Complex Link between the Female Genital Microbiota, Genital Infections, and Inflammation. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e00487-20. [PMID: 33558324 PMCID: PMC8091093 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00487-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The female genital tract microbiota is part of a complex ecosystem influenced by several physiological, genetic, and behavioral factors. It is uniquely linked to a woman's mucosal immunity and plays a critical role in the regulation of genital inflammation. A vaginal microbiota characterized by a high abundance of lactobacilli and low overall bacterial diversity is associated with lower inflammation. On the other hand, a more diverse microbiota is linked to high mucosal inflammation levels, a compromised genital epithelial barrier, and an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and other conditions. Several bacterial taxa such as Gardnerella spp., Prevotella spp., Sneathia spp., and Atopobium spp. are well known to have adverse effects; however, the definitive cause of this microbial dysbiosis is yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this review is to discuss the multiple ways in which the microbiota influences the overall genital inflammatory milieu and to explore the causes and consequences of this inflammatory response. While there is abundant evidence linking a diverse genital microbiota to elevated inflammation, understanding the risk factors and mechanisms through which it affects genital health is essential. A robust appreciation of these factors is important for identifying effective prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smritee Dabee
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jo-Ann S Passmore
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- CAPRISA Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Heather B Jaspan
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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24
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Mott PD, Taylor CM, Lillis RA, Ardizzone CM, Albritton HL, Luo M, Calabresi KG, Martin DH, Myers L, Quayle AJ. Differences in the Genital Microbiota in Women Who Naturally Clear Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Compared to Women Who Do Not Clear; A Pilot Study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:615770. [PMID: 33912473 PMCID: PMC8072278 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.615770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro studies indicate IFNγ is central to Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) eradication, but its function may be compromised by anaerobes typically associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV), a frequent co-morbidity in women with Ct. Here we investigated the associations between natural clearance of cervical Ct infection, the vaginal microbiome, and the requirements for IFNγ by evaluating the vaginal microbial and cytokine composition of Ct treatment visit samples from women who cleared Ct infection in the interim between their Ct screening and Ct treatment visit. The pilot cohort was young, predominantly African American, and characterized by a high rate of BV that was treated with metronidazole at the Ct screening visit. The rate of natural Ct clearance was 23.6% by the Ct treatment visit (median 9 days). 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that metronidazole-treated women who had a Lactobacillus spp.-dominant vaginal microbiota (CST 2 or 3) at the Ct treatment visit, were more prevalent in the Ct clearing population than the non-clearing population (86% v. 50%). L. iners (CST2) was the major Lactobacillus spp. present in Ct clearers, and 33% still remained anaerobe-dominant (CST1). Vaginal IFNγ levels were not significantly different in Ct clearers and non-clearers and were several logs lower than that required for killing Ct in vitro. An expanded panel of IFNγ-induced and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines also did not reveal differences between Ct clearers and non-clearers, but, rather, suggested signatures better associated with specific CSTs. Taken together, these findings suggest that BV-associated bacteria may impede Ct clearance, but a Lactobacillus spp.-dominant microbiome is not an absolute requirement to clear. Further, IFNγ may be required at lower concentrations than in vitro modeling indicates, suggesting it may act together with other factors in vivo. Data also revealed that the vaginal bacteria-driven inflammation add complexity to the genital cytokine milieu, but changes in this microbiota may contribute to, or provide cytokine biomarkers, for a shift to Ct clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Dehon Mott
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Christopher M. Taylor
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Rebecca A. Lillis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Caleb M. Ardizzone
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Hannah L. Albritton
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Meng Luo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Kaitlyn G. Calabresi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - David H. Martin
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Leann Myers
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Alison J. Quayle
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
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25
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Tuddenham S, Ravel J, Marrazzo JM. Protection and Risk: Male and Female Genital Microbiota and Sexually Transmitted Infections. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:S222-S235. [PMID: 33576776 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Unique compositional and functional features of the cervicovaginal microbiota have been associated with protection against and risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI). In men, our knowledge of the interaction between the penile microbiota and STI is less developed. The current state of our understanding of these microbiota and their role in select STIs is briefly reviewed, along with strategies that leverage existing findings to manipulate genital microbiota and optimize protection against STIs. Finally, we focus on major research gaps and present a framework for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Tuddenham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeanne M Marrazzo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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26
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Li H, Zang Y, Wang C, Li H, Fan A, Han C, Xue F. The Interaction Between Microorganisms, Metabolites, and Immune System in the Female Genital Tract Microenvironment. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:609488. [PMID: 33425785 PMCID: PMC7785791 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.609488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The female reproductive tract microenvironment includes microorganisms, metabolites, and immune components, and the balance of the interactions among them plays an important role in maintaining female reproductive tract homeostasis and health. When any one of the reproductive tract microorganisms, metabolites, or immunity is out of balance, it will affect the other two, leading to the occurrence and development of diseases and the appearance of corresponding symptoms and signs, such as infertility, miscarriage, premature delivery, and gynecological tumors caused by infectious diseases of the reproductive tract. Nutrients in the female reproductive tract provide symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms with a source of nutrients for their own reproduction and utilization. At the same time, this interaction with the host forms a variety of metabolites. Changes in metabolites in the host reproductive tract are related not only to the interaction between the host and microbiota under dysbiosis but also to changes in host immunity or the environment, all of which will participate in the pathogenesis of diseases and lead to disease-related phenotypes. Microorganisms and their metabolites can also interact with host immunity, activate host immunity, and change the host immune status and are closely related to persistent genital pathogen infections, aggravation of infectious diseases, severe pregnancy outcomes, and even gynecological cancers. Therefore, studying the interaction between microorganisms, metabolites, and immunity in the reproductive tract cannot only reveal the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to inflammation of the reproductive tract, adverse pregnancy outcomes and tumorigenesis but also provide a basis for further research on the diagnosis and treatment of targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanrong Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenic, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuqin Zang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenic, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenic, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Huiyang Li
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenic, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Aiping Fan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenic, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Cha Han
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenic, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengxia Xue
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Health and Eugenic, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
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The iron-dependent repressor YtgR is a tryptophan-dependent attenuator of the trpRBA operon in Chlamydia trachomatis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6430. [PMID: 33353937 PMCID: PMC7755916 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20181-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The trp operon of Chlamydia trachomatis is organized differently from other model bacteria. It contains trpR, an intergenic region (IGR), and the biosynthetic trpB and trpA open-reading frames. TrpR is a tryptophan-dependent repressor that regulates the major promoter (PtrpR), while the IGR harbors an alternative promoter (PtrpBA) and an operator sequence for the iron-dependent repressor YtgR to regulate trpBA expression. Here, we report that YtgR repression at PtrpBA is also dependent on tryptophan by regulating YtgR levels through a rare triple-tryptophan motif (WWW) in the YtgCR precursor. Inhibiting translation during tryptophan limitation at the WWW motif subsequently promotes Rho-independent transcription termination of ytgR, thereby de-repressing PtrpBA. Thus, YtgR represents an alternative strategy to attenuate trpBA expression, expanding the repertoire for trp operon attenuation beyond TrpL- and TRAP-mediated mechanisms described in other bacteria. Furthermore, repurposing the iron-dependent repressor YtgR underscores the fundamental importance of maintaining tryptophan-dependent attenuation of the trpRBA operon.
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Li DK, Mu YT, Feng HH. The expression and purification of LpxA of Chlamydia trachomatis and preparation of its polyclonal antibody. Z NATURFORSCH C 2020; 75:313-317. [PMID: 32374296 DOI: 10.1515/znc-2020-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to purify the LpxA protein of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) and prepare the polyclonal antibody against LpxA protein, so as to lay a foundation for studying the function of LpxA protein. The LpxA gene was amplified by PCR. The expression plasmid pET28a-LpxA was constructed by using pET28a as the vector. The fusion protein containing 6 histidine tag was induced by IPTG and purified by Ni2+ chromatography gel. The purified His-LpxA protein was used as an immunogen to immunize New Zealand rabbits subcutaneously through the back to prepare polyclonal antibody. Immunoblotting was used to detect the reaction between the antibody and His-LpxA. The determination of polyclonal antibody titer was detected by ELISA. The relative molecular weight of His-LpxA was 32.8 kDa, and it could be expressed in Escherichia coli. The purity of the purified protein was about 95%. After immunizing New Zealand rabbits, the antiserum was able to recognize the recombinant His-LpxA protein with a titer greater than 1:10240. In this study, LpxA protein was successfully purified and antiserum was prepared, which provided an experimental basis for studying the function of LpxA protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Kun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Ying-Tao Mu
- Department of TCM, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Huan-Huan Feng
- Xiangyang No.1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, No. 15 Jiefang Road, Xiangyang, Hubei, 441000, PR China
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29
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Quigley BL, Timms P. Helping koalas battle disease - Recent advances in Chlamydia and koala retrovirus (KoRV) disease understanding and treatment in koalas. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2020; 44:583-605. [PMID: 32556174 PMCID: PMC8600735 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The iconic Australian marsupial, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), has suffered dramatic population declines as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation, disease, vehicle collision mortality, dog attacks, bushfires and climate change. In 2012, koalas were officially declared vulnerable by the Australian government and listed as a threatened species. In response, research into diseases affecting koalas has expanded rapidly. The two major pathogens affecting koalas are Chlamydia pecorum, leading to chlamydial disease and koala retrovirus (KoRV). In the last eight years, these pathogens and their diseases have received focused study regarding their sources, genetics, prevalence, disease presentation and transmission. This has led to vast improvements in pathogen detection and treatment, including the ongoing development of vaccines for each as a management and control strategy. This review will summarize and highlight the important advances made in understanding and combating C. pecorum and KoRV in koalas, since they were declared a threatened species. With complementary advances having also been made from the koala genome sequence and in our understanding of the koala immune system, we are primed to make a significant positive impact on koala health into the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Quigley
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast,
90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast,
90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs, Queensland, 4556, Australia
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30
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Thapa J, Hashimoto K, Sugawara S, Tsujikawa R, Okubo T, Nakamura S, Yamaguchi H. Hypoxia promotes Chlamydia trachomatis L2/434/Bu growth in immortal human epithelial cells via activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway and maintenance of a balanced NAD +/NADH ratio. Microbes Infect 2020; 22:441-450. [PMID: 32442683 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2020.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis LGV (CtL2) causes systemic infection and proliferates in lymph nodes as well as genital tract or rectum producing a robust inflammatory response, presumably leading to a low oxygen environment. We therefore assessed how CtL2 growth in immortal human epithelial cells adapts to hypoxic conditions. Assessment of inclusion forming units, the quantity of chlamydial 16S rDNA, and inclusion size showed that hypoxia promotes CtL2 growth. Under hypoxia, HIF-1α was stabilized and p53 was degraded in infected cells. Moreover, AKT was strongly phosphorylated at S473 by CtL2 infection. This activation was significantly diminished by LY-294002, a PI3K-AKT inhibitor, which decreased the number of CtL2 progeny. HIF-1α stabilizers (CoCl2, desferrioxamine) had no effect on increasing CtL2 growth, indicating no autocrine impact of growth factors produced by HIF-1α stabilization. Furthermore, in normoxia, CtL2 infection changed the NAD+/NADH ratio of cells with increased gapdh expression; in contrast, under hypoxia, the NAD+/NADH ratio was the same in infected and uninfected cells with high and stable expression of gapdh, suggesting that CtL2-infected cells adapted better to hypoxia. Together, these data indicate that hypoxia promotes CtL2 growth in immortal human epithelial cells by activating the PI3K-AKT pathway and maintaining the NAD+/NADH ratio with stably activated glycolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeewan Thapa
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
| | - Kent Hashimoto
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
| | - Saori Sugawara
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
| | - Ryoya Tsujikawa
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
| | - Torahiko Okubo
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
| | - Shinji Nakamura
- Division of Biomedical Imaging Research, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Yamaguchi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, North-12, West-5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
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Kumar R, Derbigny WA. TLR3 Deficiency Leads to a Dysregulation in the Global Gene-Expression Profile in Murine Oviduct Epithelial Cells Infected with Chlamydia muridarum. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 1:1-13. [PMID: 31891165 PMCID: PMC6937138 DOI: 10.18689/ijmr-1000101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis replicates primarily in the epithelial cells lining the genital tract and induces the innate immune response by triggering cellular pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). Our previous studies showed that Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) is expressed in murine oviduct epithelial (OE) cells, is the primary PRR triggered by C. muridarum (Cm) early during infection to induce IFN-β synthesis, and that TLR3 signaling regulates the chlamydial induced synthesis of a plethora of other innate inflammatory modulators including IL-6, CXCL10, CXCL16 and CCL5. We also showed that the expression of these cytokines induced by Chlamydia was severely diminished during TLR3 deficiency; however, the replication of Chlamydiain TLR3 deficient OE cells was more robust than in WT cells. These data suggested that TLR3 had a biological impact on the inflammatory response to Chlamydia infection; however, the global effects of TLR3 signaling in the cellular response to Chlamydia infection in murine OE cells has not yet been investigated. To determine the impact of TLR3 signaling on Chlamydia infection in OE cell at the transcriptome level, we infected wild-type (OE-WT) and TLR3-deficient (OE-TLR3KO) cells with Cm, and performed transcriptome analyses using microarray. Genome-wide expression and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) identified enhanced expression of host genes encoding for components found in multiple cellular processes encompassing: (1) pro-inflammatory, (2) cell adhesion, (3) chemoattraction, (4) cellular matrix and small molecule transport, (5) apoptosis, and (6) antigen-processing and presentation. These results support a role for TLR3 in modulating the host cellular responses to Cm infection that extend beyond inflammation and fibrosis, and shows that TLR3 could serve a potential therapeutic target for drug and/or vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Kumar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana-46202, USA
| | - Wilbert A Derbigny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana-46202, USA
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32
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Tachida Y, Kumagai K, Sakai S, Ando S, Yamaji T, Hanada K. Chlamydia trachomatis-infected human cells convert ceramide to sphingomyelin without sphingomyelin synthases 1 and 2. FEBS Lett 2019; 594:519-529. [PMID: 31596951 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13632] [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: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis proliferates in the membranous compartment inclusion formed in host cells. The host ceramide transport protein CERT delivers ceramide from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex for the synthesis of sphingomyelin (SM). Chlamydia trachomatis has been suggested to employ CERT to produce SM in the inclusion by host SM synthases (SMSs). Here, we found that C. trachomatis proliferates and produces infective progeny even in SMS1 and SMS2 double-knockout HeLa cells, but not in the SMS1/SMS2/CERT triple-knockout cells. Interestingly, infected cells convert ceramide to SM without host SMSs. These results suggest that C. trachomatis-infected cells can convert ceramide to SM without host SMSs after CERT-mediated transfer of ceramide to the inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuriko Tachida
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
| | - Keigo Kumagai
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
| | - Shota Sakai
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
| | - Shuji Ando
- Department of Virology I, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Yamaji
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hanada
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Japan
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Gitsels A, Sanders N, Vanrompay D. Chlamydial Infection From Outside to Inside. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2329. [PMID: 31649655 PMCID: PMC6795091 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia are obligate intracellular bacteria, characterized by a unique biphasic developmental cycle. Specific interactions with the host cell are crucial for the bacteria’s survival and amplification because of the reduced chlamydial genome. At the start of infection, pathogen-host interactions are set in place in order for Chlamydia to enter the host cell and reach the nutrient-rich peri-Golgi region. Once intracellular localization is established, interactions with organelles and pathways of the host cell enable the necessary hijacking of host-derived nutrients. Detailed information on the aforementioned processes will increase our understanding on the intracellular pathogenesis of chlamydiae and hence might lead to new strategies to battle chlamydial infection. This review summarizes how chlamydiae generate their intracellular niche in the host cell, acquire host-derived nutrients in order to enable their growth and finally exit the host cell in order to infect new cells. Moreover, the evolution in the development of molecular genetic tools, necessary for studying the chlamydial infection biology in more depth, is discussed in great detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlieke Gitsels
- Laboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Niek Sanders
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Daisy Vanrompay
- Laboratory for Immunology and Animal Biotechnology, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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34
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Somboonna N, Ziklo N, Ferrin TE, Hyuk Suh J, Dean D. Clinical Persistence of Chlamydia trachomatis Sexually Transmitted Strains Involves Novel Mutations in the Functional αββα Tetramer of the Tryptophan Synthase Operon. mBio 2019; 10:e01464-19. [PMID: 31311884 PMCID: PMC6635532 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01464-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical persistence of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a major public health concern. In vitro persistence is known to develop through interferon gamma (IFN-γ) induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which catabolizes tryptophan, an essential amino acid for Ct replication. The organism can recover from persistence by synthesizing tryptophan from indole, a substrate for the enzyme tryptophan synthase. The majority of Ct strains, except for reference strain B/TW-5/OT, contain an operon comprised of α and β subunits that encode TrpA and TrpB, respectively, and form a functional αββα tetramer. However, trpA mutations in ocular Ct strains, which are responsible for the blinding eye disease known as trachoma, abrogate tryptophan synthesis from indole. We examined serial urogenital samples from a woman who had recurrent Ct infections over 4 years despite antibiotic treatment. The Ct isolates from each infection episode were genome sequenced and analyzed for phenotypic, structural, and functional characteristics. All isolates contained identical mutations in trpA and developed aberrant bodies within intracellular inclusions, visualized by transmission electron microscopy, even when supplemented with indole following IFN-γ treatment. Each isolate displayed an altered αββα structure, could not synthesize tryptophan from indole, and had significantly lower trpBA expression but higher intracellular tryptophan levels compared with those of reference Ct strain F/IC-Cal3. Our data indicate that emergent mutations in the tryptophan operon, which were previously thought to be restricted only to ocular Ct strains, likely resulted in in vivo persistence in the described patient and represents a novel host-pathogen adaptive strategy for survival.IMPORTANCEChlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common sexually transmitted bacterium with more than 131 million cases occurring annually worldwide. Ct infections are often asymptomatic, persisting for many years despite treatment. In vitro recovery from persistence occurs when indole is utilized by the organism's tryptophan synthase to synthesize tryptophan, an essential amino acid for replication. Ocular but not urogenital Ct strains contain mutations in the synthase that abrogate tryptophan synthesis. Here, we discovered that the genomes of serial isolates from a woman with recurrent, treated Ct STIs over many years were identical with a novel synthase mutation. This likely allowed long-term in vivo persistence where active infection resumed only when tryptophan became available. Our findings indicate an emerging adaptive host-pathogen evolutionary strategy for survival in the urogenital tract that will prompt the field to further explore chlamydial persistence, evaluate the genetics of mutant Ct strains and fitness within the host, and their implications for disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naraporn Somboonna
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Noa Ziklo
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Thomas E Ferrin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jung Hyuk Suh
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Deborah Dean
- Center for Immunobiology and Vaccine Development, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley and University of California San Francisco Joint Graduate Group, Berkeley and San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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Di Pietro M, Filardo S, Romano S, Sessa R. Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae Interaction with the Host: Latest Advances and Future Prospective. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7050140. [PMID: 31100923 PMCID: PMC6560445 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7050140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Research in Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae has gained new traction due to recent advances in molecular biology, namely the widespread use of the metagenomic analysis and the development of a stable genomic transformation system, resulting in a better understanding of Chlamydia pathogenesis. C. trachomatis, the leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted diseases, is responsible of cervicitis and urethritis, and C. pneumoniae, a widespread respiratory pathogen, has long been associated with several chronic inflammatory diseases with great impact on public health. The present review summarizes the current evidence regarding the complex interplay between C. trachomatis and host defense factors in the genital micro-environment as well as the key findings in chronic inflammatory diseases associated to C. pneumoniae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Di Pietro
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Microbiology, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Simone Filardo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Microbiology, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Silvio Romano
- Cardiology, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.
| | - Rosa Sessa
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Microbiology, University of Rome "Sapienza", 00185 Rome, Italy.
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Bik EM, Bird SW, Bustamante JP, Leon LE, Nieto PA, Addae K, Alegría-Mera V, Bravo C, Bravo D, Cardenas JP, Carson GA, Caughey A, Covarrubias PC, Pérez-Donoso J, Gass G, Gupta SL, Harman K, Hongo DMB, Jiménez JC, Kraal L, Melis-Arcos F, Morales EH, Morton A, Navas CF, Nuñez H, Olivares E, Órdenes-Aenishanslins N, Ossandon FJ, Phan R, Pino R, Soto-Liebe K, Varas I, Vera-Wolf P, Walton NA, Almonacid DE, Goddard AD, Ugalde JA, Zneimer S, Richman J, Apte ZS. A novel sequencing-based vaginal health assay combining self-sampling, HPV detection and genotyping, STI detection, and vaginal microbiome analysis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215945. [PMID: 31042762 PMCID: PMC6493738 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiome, including both the presence of pathogens involved in sexually transmitted infections (STI) as well as commensal microbiota, has been shown to have important associations for a woman's reproductive and general health. Currently, healthcare providers cannot offer comprehensive vaginal microbiome screening, but are limited to the detection of individual pathogens, such as high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), the predominant cause of cervical cancer. There is no single test on the market that combines HPV, STI, and microbiome screening. Here, we describe a novel inclusive vaginal health assay that combines self-sampling with sequencing-based HPV detection and genotyping, vaginal microbiome analysis, and STI-associated pathogen detection. The assay includes genotyping and detection of 14 hrHPV types, 5 low-risk HPV types (lrHPV), as well as the relative abundance of 31 bacterial taxa of clinical importance, including Lactobacillus, Sneathia, Gardnerella, and 3 pathogens involved in STI, with high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. For each of these taxa, reference ranges were determined in a group of 50 self-reported healthy women. The HPV sequencing portion of the test was evaluated against the digene High-Risk HPV HC2 DNA test. For hrHPV genotyping, agreement was 95.3% with a kappa of 0.804 (601 samples); after removal of samples in which the digene hrHPV probe showed cross-reactivity with lrHPV types, the sensitivity and specificity of the hrHPV genotyping assay were 94.5% and 96.6%, respectively, with a kappa of 0.841. For lrHPV genotyping, agreement was 93.9% with a kappa of 0.788 (148 samples), while sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 92.9%, respectively. This novel assay could be used to complement conventional cervical cancer screening, because its self-sampling format can expand access among women who would otherwise not participate, and because of its additional information about the composition of the vaginal microbiome and the presence of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara W. Bird
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Luis E. Leon
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Kwasi Addae
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Adam Caughey
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | | | - Graham Gass
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Kira Harman
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Harold Nuñez
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Richard Phan
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Raul Pino
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zachary S. Apte
- uBiome, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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37
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Pokorzynski ND, Brinkworth AJ, Carabeo R. A bipartite iron-dependent transcriptional regulation of the tryptophan salvage pathway in Chlamydia trachomatis. eLife 2019; 8:e42295. [PMID: 30938288 PMCID: PMC6504234 DOI: 10.7554/elife.42295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During infection, pathogens are starved of essential nutrients such as iron and tryptophan by host immune effectors. Without conserved global stress response regulators, how the obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis arrives at a physiologically similar 'persistent' state in response to starvation of either nutrient remains unclear. Here, we report on the iron-dependent regulation of the trpRBA tryptophan salvage pathway in C. trachomatis. Iron starvation specifically induces trpBA expression from a novel promoter element within an intergenic region flanked by trpR and trpB. YtgR, the only known iron-dependent regulator in Chlamydia, can bind to the trpRBA intergenic region upstream of the alternative trpBA promoter to repress transcription. Simultaneously, YtgR binding promotes the termination of transcripts from the primary promoter upstream of trpR. This is the first description of an iron-dependent mechanism regulating prokaryotic tryptophan biosynthesis that may indicate the existence of novel approaches to gene regulation and stress response in Chlamydia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick D Pokorzynski
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary MedicineWashington State UniversityPullmanUnited States
| | - Amanda J Brinkworth
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary MedicineWashington State UniversityPullmanUnited States
| | - Rey Carabeo
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Veterinary MedicineWashington State UniversityPullmanUnited States
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38
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Chlamydia trachomatis Growth and Cytokine mRNA Response in a Prostate Cancer Cell Line. Adv Urol 2019; 2019:6287057. [PMID: 30800160 PMCID: PMC6360031 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6287057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present paper, we report that C. trachomatis can be efficiently propagated and affect mRNA expression for two major cytokines, relevant to tumor progression, in CWR-R1 cells, a malignant prostate cell line. CWR-R1 and McCoy cells, a classic cell line for chlamydial research, were grown and infected with C. trachomatis under similar conditions. Cell monolayers were harvested for RNA analysis and immunostaining with major outer membrane protein (MOMP) antibody at 24, 48, and 72 hours of the postinfection (hpi) period. It was shown that the infectious cycle of chlamydial pathogen in CWR-R1 cells resembles the progression of C. trachomatis infection in McCoy cells but with a few important differences. First of all, the initial stage of C. trachomatis propagation in CWR-R1 cells (24 hpi) was characterized by larger inclusion bodies and more intense, specific immunofluorescent staining of infected cells as compared with McCoy cells. Moreover, there was a corresponding increase in infective progeny formation in CWR-R1 cells along with mRNA for EUO, a crucial gene controlling the early phase of the chlamydial development cycle (24 hpi). These changes were more minimal and became statistically insignificant at a later time point in the infectious cycle (48 hpi). Altogether, these data suggest that the early phase of C. trachomatis infection in CWR-R1 cells is accompanied by more efficient propagation of the pathogen as compared with the growth of C. trachomatis in McCoy cells. Furthermore, propagation of C. trachomatis in CWR-R1 cells leads to enhanced transcription of interleukin-6 and fibroblast growth factor-2, genes encoding two important proinflammatory cytokines implicated in the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance of prostate cancer and its ability to metastasize. The possible roles of reactive oxygen species and impaired mitochondrial oxidation in the prostate cancer cell line are discussed as factors promoting the early stages of C. trachomatis growth in CWR-R1 cells.
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39
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Kruppa MD, Jacobs J, King-Hook K, Galloway K, Berry A, Kintner J, Whittimore JD, Fritz R, Schoborg RV, Hall JV. Binding of Elementary Bodies by the Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans or Soluble β-Glucan, Laminarin, Inhibits Chlamydia trachomatis Infectivity. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3270. [PMID: 30692972 PMCID: PMC6339894 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial interactions represent an understudied facet of human health and disease. In this study, the interactions that occur between Chlamydia trachomatis and the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans were investigated. Candida albicans is a common component of the oral and vaginal microbiota responsible for thrush and vaginal yeast infections. Normally, Candida exist in the body as yeast. However, disruptions to the microbiota create conditions that allow expanded growth of Candida, conversion to the hyphal form, and tissue invasion. Previous studies have shown that a myriad of outcomes can occur when Candida albicans interacts with pathogenic bacteria. To determine if C. trachomatis physically interacts with C. albicans, we incubated chlamydial elementary bodies (EB) in medium alone or with C. albicans yeast or hyphal forms for 1 h. Following incubation, the samples were formaldehyde-fixed and processed for immunofluorescence assays using anti-chlamydial MOMP or anti- chlamydial LPS antibodies. Replicate samples were replenished with culture medium and incubated at 35°C for 0–120 h prior to fixation for immunofluorescence analysis or collection for EB infectivity assays. Data from this study indicates that both C. trachomatis serovar E and C. muridarum EB bind to C. albicans yeast and hyphal forms. This interaction was not blocked by pre-incubation of EB with the Candida cell wall components, mannan or β-glucans, suggesting that EB interact with a Candida cell wall protein or other structure. Bound EB remained attached to C. albicans for a minimum of 5 days (120 h). Infectivity assays demonstrated that EB bound to C. albicans are infectious immediately following binding (0h). However, once bound to C. albicans, EB infectivity decreased at a faster rate than EB in medium alone. At 6h post binding, 40% of EB incubated in medium alone remained infectious compared to only 16% of EB bound to C. albicans. Likewise, pre-incubation of EB with laminarin, a soluble preparation of β-glucan, alone or in combination with other fungal cell wall components significantly decreases chlamydial infectivity in HeLa cells. These data indicate that interactions between EB and C. albicans inhibit chlamydial infectivity, possibly by physically blocking EB interactions with host cell receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Kruppa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Center for Infectious Disease, Inflammation and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Jeremy Jacobs
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Kelsey King-Hook
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Keleigh Galloway
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Amy Berry
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Center for Infectious Disease, Inflammation and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Jennifer Kintner
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Center for Infectious Disease, Inflammation and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Judy D Whittimore
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Center for Infectious Disease, Inflammation and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Rolf Fritz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Center for Infectious Disease, Inflammation and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Robert V Schoborg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Center for Infectious Disease, Inflammation and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Jennifer V Hall
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States.,Center for Infectious Disease, Inflammation and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
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40
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Murall CL, Jackson R, Zehbe I, Boulle N, Segondy M, Alizon S. Epithelial stratification shapes infection dynamics. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1006646. [PMID: 30673699 PMCID: PMC6361466 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections of stratified epithelia contribute to a large group of common diseases, such as dermatological conditions and sexually transmitted diseases. To investigate how epithelial structure affects infection dynamics, we develop a general ecology-inspired model for stratified epithelia. Our model allows us to simulate infections, explore new hypotheses and estimate parameters that are difficult to measure with tissue cell cultures. We focus on two contrasting pathogens: Chlamydia trachomatis and Human papillomaviruses (HPV). Using cervicovaginal parameter estimates, we find that key infection symptoms can be explained by differential interactions with the layers, while clearance and pathogen burden appear to be bottom-up processes. Cell protective responses to infections (e.g. mucus trapping) generally lowered pathogen load but there were specific effects based on infection strategies. Our modeling approach opens new perspectives for 3D tissue culture experimental systems of infections and, more generally, for developing and testing hypotheses related to infections of stratified epithelia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Jackson
- Probe Development and Biomarker Exploration, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
- Biotechnology Program, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ingeborg Zehbe
- Probe Development and Biomarker Exploration, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nathalie Boulle
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, INSERM, EFS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Michel Segondy
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic Infections, INSERM, EFS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Samuel Alizon
- Laboratoire MIVEGEC (UMR CNRS 5290, IRD, UM), Montpellier, France
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41
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Abstract
Developed two decades ago as a molecular method to provide definite characterization of a bacterial isolate, Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) is today globally adopted as a universal fine-detailed molecular typing tool and has been applied to numerous pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacterial as well eukaryotic organisms. MLST utilizes DNA sequence of several conserved housekeeping (HK) genes which are assigned an allelic number, which then collectively constitute an allelic profile or sequence type (ST), a "molecular barcode" of the interrogated bacterial strain or a eukaryotic organism. Here, we describe the principles and molecular approaches for generating MLST data for an analysis of a bacteria in the order Chlamydiales, using a Chlamydia pecorum-specific MLST scheme as an example.
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42
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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: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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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Subtle changes in host cell density cause a serious error in monitoring of the intracellular growth of Chlamydia trachomatis in a low-oxygen environment: Proposal for a standardized culture method. J Microbiol Methods 2018; 153:84-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Revised: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Lin LCW, Chattopadhyay S, Lin JC, Hu CMJ. Advances and Opportunities in Nanoparticle- and Nanomaterial-Based Vaccines against Bacterial Infections. Adv Healthc Mater 2018; 7:e1701395. [PMID: 29508547 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201701395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
As the dawn of the postantibiotic era we approach, antibacterial vaccines are becoming increasingly important for managing bacterial infection and reducing the need for antibiotics. Despite the success of vaccination, vaccines remain unavailable for many pressing microbial diseases, including tuberculosis, chlamydia, and staphylococcus infections. Amid continuing research efforts in antibacterial vaccine development, the advancement of nanomaterial engineering has brought forth new opportunities in vaccine designs. With increasing knowledge in antibacterial immunity and immunologic adjuvants, innovative nanoparticles are designed to elicit the appropriate immune responses for effective antimicrobial defense. Rationally designed nanoparticles are demonstrated to overcome delivery barriers to shape the adaptive immunity. This article reviews the advances in nanoparticle- and nanomaterial-based antibacterial vaccines and summarizes the development of nanoparticulate adjuvants for immune potentiation against microbial pathogens. In addition, challenges and progress in ongoing antibacterial vaccine development are discussed to highlight the opportunities for future vaccine designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Chien-Wei Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences; Academia Sinica; 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road Nangang District Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Saborni Chattopadhyay
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences; Academia Sinica; 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road Nangang District Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Jung-Chen Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences; Academia Sinica; 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road Nangang District Taipei 11529 Taiwan
| | - Che-Ming Jack Hu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences; Academia Sinica; 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road Nangang District Taipei 11529 Taiwan
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Parolin C, Foschi C, Laghi L, Zhu C, Banzola N, Gaspari V, D'Antuono A, Giordani B, Severgnini M, Consolandi C, Salvo M, Cevenini R, Vitali B, Marangoni A. Insights Into Vaginal Bacterial Communities and Metabolic Profiles of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection: Positioning Between Eubiosis and Dysbiosis. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:600. [PMID: 29643849 PMCID: PMC5883401 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and functioning of the female genital tract, preventing the colonization of urogenital pathogens and sexually transmitted infections. In this study, we characterized the vaginal bacterial communities and the metabolome associated to Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CT: 20 women), compared to healthy condition (H: 22 women) and bacterial vaginosis (BV: 19 women). A microarray-based tool (VaginArray), implemented with a real-time PCR for Gardnerella vaginalis, was used to determine the vaginal bacterial composition, whereas the metabolic profiles were assessed by a proton-based nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy. CT infection was characterized by bacterial and metabolic signatures similar to healthy condition, even though higher amounts of Lactobacillus iners, as well as depletion of some amino acids, biogenic amines, and succinate marked CT infection. Moreover, the frequency of Lactobacillus crispatus was higher in asymptomatic CT-positive patients than in women with CT-correlated symptoms. We also confirmed the marked differences in the microbiome and metabolome between healthy and BV-affected women. In conclusion, we highlighted microbial and metabolic peculiarities of the vaginal ecosystem in the case of CT infection, even though further studies are needed to understand if the observed alterations precede the infection onset or if the pathogen itself perturbs the vaginal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Parolin
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Foschi
- Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luca Laghi
- Centre of Foodomics, Department of Agro-Food Science and Technology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chenglin Zhu
- Centre of Foodomics, Department of Agro-Food Science and Technology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Banzola
- Dermatology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Gaspari
- Dermatology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonietta D'Antuono
- Dermatology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Giordani
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Severgnini
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies - National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | - Clarissa Consolandi
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies - National Research Council, Milan, Italy
| | - Melissa Salvo
- Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Cevenini
- Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Beatrice Vitali
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonella Marangoni
- Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Bagheri S, Roghanian R, Golbang N, Golbang P, Nasr Esfahani MH. Molecular Evidence of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection and Its Relation to Miscarriage. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FERTILITY & STERILITY 2018; 12:152-156. [PMID: 29707933 PMCID: PMC5936614 DOI: 10.22074/ijfs.2018.5184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the world
that can persist and also ascend in the genital tract. This intracellular and silent infection is related to some adverse
pregnancy outcomes, such as miscarriage. The aims of this study were to explore the best CT screening tests using
blood and vaginal samples and to investigate the correlation between CT infection and the incidence of miscarriage. Materials and Methods This case-control study was done in October 2013 through June 2014, using purposive
sampling from 157 female participants with or without a history of miscarriage. The samples were taken after each
participant had signed a letter of consent and had completed a questionnaire. To achieve the objectives of this study,
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests were performed on vaginal
swabs and blood samples, respectively. Results PCR results showed a significantly higher CT infection rate in the miscarriage group compared to the control
group (11.3 vs. 0%, P=0.007). Anti-CT IgG and IgA antibodies were found in 4.2 and 2.1% of cases in the miscarriage
group, and in 1.7 and 6.7% of cases in the control group, respectively (P>0.05). Despite lower humoral responses in
this study, positive samples were detected only by one of the following techniques; PCR, ELISA IgA and ELISA IgG.
It also should be noted that PCR worked best in terms of detection. Conclusion Based on the obtained data, there is a strong association between molecular evidence of CT infection
and miscarriage. A higher rate of CT detection in molecular tests compared to serological assays suggests that PCR
could be used as the first-choice assay for detection of C. trachomatis. However, the importance of serological tests in
detecting potential past CT infection or upper genital infection not amenable to sampling is undeniable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Bagheri
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Rasoul Roghanian
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran. Electronic Address:
| | - Naser Golbang
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Pouran Golbang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emam Khomeini Hospital, Falavarjan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr Esfahani
- Departmen of Reproductive Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Centre, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
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47
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Ziklo N, Vidgen ME, Taing K, Huston WM, Timms P. Dysbiosis of the Vaginal Microbiota and Higher Vaginal Kynurenine/Tryptophan Ratio Reveals an Association with Chlamydia trachomatis Genital Infections. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:1. [PMID: 29404279 PMCID: PMC5778109 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The natural course of Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital tract infections varies between individuals. While protective immunity can occur, some women can become reinfected, contributing to the development of severe pathology. While the reasons for these differences are unknown, an individual's response to induced interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is suggested to be critical. IFN-γ induction of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, which depletes tryptophan, may be the key. One hypothesis suggests that indole-producing bacteria in the vaginal microbiota can provide a substrate for the Chlamydia to synthesize tryptophan, rescuing the Chlamydia from host IFN-γ attack. We studied a cohort of 25 women who were either, Chlamydia negative, Chlamydia positive with a single infection, or Chlamydia positive with repeated infection, to test our hypothesis. We characterized their vaginal microbiota, cytokine response, as well as their tryptophan, kynurenine and indole concentrations directly in vaginal secretions. We found that C. trachomatis urogenital tract infections either initial or repeat infections, were associated with elevated vaginal kynurenine/tryptophan ratios, primarily as a result of elevated kynurenine levels. In addition, vaginal microbiota of community state type (CST) IV showed significantly lower vaginal tryptophan levels compared to CST I and III, which might be related to a higher abundance of indole producers found within this group. Furthermore, we found a higher abundance of indole producers in women who cleared their Chlamydia infection post antibiotic treatment. This study demonstrates for the first time in vivo, the association between high vaginal kynurenine/tryptophan ratios and C. trachomatis infections. In addition, tryptophan depletion was associated with vaginal microbiota of CST IV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Ziklo
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Miranda E. Vidgen
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Kuong Taing
- Sexual Health and HIV Service, Clinic 87, Sunshine Coast, Nambour, QLD, Australia
| | - Wilhelmina M. Huston
- School of Life Sciences, Higher Education and Academic Practice, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter Timms
- Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
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Graspeuntner S, Bohlmann MK, Gillmann K, Speer R, Kuenzel S, Mark H, Hoellen F, Lettau R, Griesinger G, König IR, Baines JF, Rupp J. Microbiota-based analysis reveals specific bacterial traits and a novel strategy for the diagnosis of infectious infertility. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191047. [PMID: 29315330 PMCID: PMC5760088 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tubal factor infertility (TFI) accounts for more than 30% of the cases of female infertility and mostly resides from an inflammatory process triggered by an infection. Clinical appearances largely differ, and very often infections are not recognized or remain completely asymptomatic over time. Here, we characterized the microbial pattern in females diagnosed with infectious infertility (ININF) in comparison to females with non-infectious infertility (nININF), female sex workers (FSW) and healthy controls (fertile). Females diagnosed with infectious infertility differed significantly in the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against the C. trachomatis proteins MOMP, OMP2, CPAF and HSP60 when compared to fertile females. Microbiota analysis using 16S amplicon sequencing of cervical swabs revealed significant differences between ININF and fertile controls in the relative read count of Gardnerella (10.08% vs. 5.43%). Alpha diversity varies among groups, which are characterized by community state types including Lactobacillus-dominated communities in fertile females, an increase in diversity in all the other groups and Gardnerella-dominated communities occurring more often in ININF. While all single parameters did not allow predicting infections as the cause of infertility, including C. trachomatis IgG/IgA status together with 16S rRNA gene analysis of the ten most frequent taxa a total of 93.8% of the females were correctly classified. Further studies are needed to unravel the impact of the cervical microbiota in the pathogenesis of infectious infertility and its potential for identifying females at risk earlier in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Graspeuntner
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Michael K. Bohlmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim, Baden-Wuertemberg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Gillmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Runa Speer
- Berlin Department of Public Health, Center for Sexual Health, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Kuenzel
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Heike Mark
- Berlin Department of Public Health, Center for Sexual Health, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friederike Hoellen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Reinhard Lettau
- Outpatient Medical Care for Gynecology, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Georg Griesinger
- Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecological Endocrinology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Inke R. König
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - John F. Baines
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Ploen, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
- Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
| | - Jan Rupp
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Lennard K, Dabee S, Barnabas SL, Havyarimana E, Blakney A, Jaumdally SZ, Botha G, Mkhize NN, Bekker LG, Lewis DA, Gray G, Mulder N, Passmore JAS, Jaspan HB. Microbial Composition Predicts Genital Tract Inflammation and Persistent Bacterial Vaginosis in South African Adolescent Females. Infect Immun 2018; 86:e00410-17. [PMID: 29038128 PMCID: PMC5736802 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00410-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Young African females are at an increased risk of HIV acquisition, and genital inflammation or the vaginal microbiome may contribute to this risk. We studied these factors in 168 HIV-negative South African adolescent females aged 16 to 22 years. Unsupervised clustering of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed three clusters (subtypes), one of which was strongly associated with genital inflammation. In a multivariate model, the microbiome compositional subtype and hormonal contraception were significantly associated with genital inflammation. We identified 40 taxa significantly associated with inflammation, including those reported previously (Prevotella, Sneathia, Aerococcus, Fusobacterium, and Gemella) as well as several novel taxa (including increased frequencies of bacterial vaginosis-associated bacterium 1 [BVAB1], BVAB2, BVAB3, Prevotella amnii, Prevotella pallens, Parvimonas micra, Megasphaera, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Atopobium vaginae and decreased frequencies of Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus jensenii, and Lactobacillus iners). Women with inflammation-associated microbiomes had significantly higher body mass indices and lower levels of endogenous estradiol and luteinizing hormone. Community functional profiling revealed three distinct vaginal microbiome subtypes, one of which was characterized by extreme genital inflammation and persistent bacterial vaginosis (BV); this subtype could be predicted with high specificity and sensitivity based on the Nugent score (≥9) or BVAB1 abundance. We propose that women with this BVAB1-dominated subtype may have chronic genital inflammation due to persistent BV, which may place them at a particularly high risk for HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Lennard
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Smritee Dabee
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shaun L Barnabas
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Enock Havyarimana
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna Blakney
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shameem Z Jaumdally
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gerrit Botha
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nonhlanhla N Mkhize
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David A Lewis
- Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Parramatta, Australia
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Medical School-Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Sandringham, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Glenda Gray
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nicola Mulder
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jo-Ann S Passmore
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Heather B Jaspan
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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50
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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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