Biological effects of chlamydiaphage phiCPG1 capsid protein Vp1 on chlamydia trachomatis in vitro and in vivo

The researches on chlamydia in recent years show that chlamydia bacteriophage may be a potential and effective means to solve the clinical infection of chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). We investigated the biological effect of chlamydiaphage phiCPG1 capsid protein Vp1 on Ct both in McCoy cells and genital tract of mice. Different concentrations of Vp1 were co-incubated with Ct E serotype strain in McCoy cells. Female BALB/c mice were used to establish Ct E strain-induced urogenital infection model. They were randomly divided into five groups and given different treatments on the fifth day after Ct inoculation. Animals in groups 1 and 2 were given 30 μL different concentrations of Vp1 in the genital tract respectively, those in group 3 were intramuscularly injected with 30 μL Vp1, those in the infected group did not receive any intervention, and those in the control group received 30 μL PBS in the genital tract. The vaginal discharge was collected to identify the live chlamydia by cell culture and gene fragment by real time PCR different days after infection. Inhibition rate of 100 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL Vp1 proteins against Ct E strain in the McCoy cell cultures was 91% and 79% respectively. The number of intracellular Ct inclusion in the McCoy cells co-cultured with vaginal discharge of group 1 and group 2 was less than in the infected group, and that in group 1 was less than in group 2, on the 7th day after Ct inoculation. Real-time PCR showed that chlamydia concentration of the vaginal discharge in group 2 was lower than in the infected group, and that in group 1 was lower than in group 2 on the 10th day. It was suggested that Vp1 capsid proteins had inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Ct serovar E strain in cell culture and mouse genital tract.

The presence of Chlamydia phage PhiCPG1 capsid protein VP1 genes and antibodies in patients infected with Chlamydia trachomatis

Chlamydia phage PhiCPG1 has been found in Chlamydia caviae in a guinea pig model for inclusion conjunctivitis, raising the possibility that Chlamydia phage is also present in patients infected with C. trachomatis (Ct). In the present study, we assayed for presence of Chlamydia phage capsid protein VP1 genes and antibodies in 84 non-Ct controls and 206 Ct patients using an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), followed by verification with Western blot. None of the subjects were exposed to an antibiotic treatment or had a C. pneumoniae infection. The VP1 antibody test was positive in both, the ELISA and Western blot assay, in 4 Ct patients. PCR amplification experiments revealed presence of the VP1 gene in 5 Ct patients. The results suggest that Chlamydia phage capsid protein VP1 may exist in some Ct patients.

Utilizing Chlamydia trachomatis IgG serology with HSG to diagnose tuboperitoneal-factor infertility

To evaluate if Chlamydia trachomatis IgG serology combined with hysterosalpingography can make it easier to detect tuboperitoneal factor infertility, we conducted a chart review of 76 consecutive patients at an infertility practice at West Virginia University from 1999-2001. We checked the charts for results of Chlamydia trachomatis IgG serology, Hysterosalpingography (HSG) and laparoscopy. Results of these tests were reviewed along with age, parity, previous reproductive tract disease surgery and duration of infertility. Complete data was found on 32 of the 76 patients. Chlamydia serology in conjunction with the HSG had a sensitivity of 80% for tuboperitoneal factor (tubal obstruction or pelvic adhesions), and a specificity of 82.3%. The positive predictive value was 80% and the negative predictive value was 82%. Since Chlamdia trachomatis IgG serologic testing is non-invasive and relatively inexpensive, we recommend combining it with hysterosalpingography as an infertility work-up. More invasive testing such as laparoscopy may be postponed or completely eliminated.

Joint effect of HPV16 with Chlamydia trachomatis and smoking on risk of cervical cancer: antagonism or misclassification (Nordic countries)

OBJECTIVES

To estimate the joint effects of infections with human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) and Chlamydia trachomatis and smoking on the risk of cervical cancer. To study whether the joint effects can be accounted for by misclassification in the HPV serology.

METHODS

A nested case-control study with incidence density sampling was conducted in three cohorts of 530,000 women, who donated serum samples to three Nordic serum banks in 1973-1994. The main outcome measure is the odds ratio (OR) of incidence rates of invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) among those seropositive for HPV16 and/or C. trachomatis and/or with increased levels of cotinine in serum compared to those negative for all the three exposures.

RESULTS

Two hundred eight women with SCC and 624 matched controls were identified during a mean follow-up of 5 years through linkage to the national cancer registries. Exposure to past infections and smoking was defined by presence of specific IgG antibodies to HPV16 and C. trachomatis and increased levels of serum cotinine. Observed ORs were compared to OR = 20 for HPV16 and accounting the differences for by misclassification bias. OR = 20 was elected as a gold standard on the basis of other studies with PCR-based analyses and a follow-up design. Each of the three exposures was associated with an increased risk of SCC (OR = 5.4 for HPV16, 3.4 for C. trachomatis and 1.8 for cotinine). The interaction was antagonistic (observed OR = 2.5 among those positive for all three exposures as compared to OR = 33 expected on the basis of multiplicative single effects (p = 0.047)). The antagonism could not totally be accounted for by any credible combination of sensitivity and specificity of HPV16 serology.

CONCLUSION

HPV16, C. trachomatis, and smoking are likely to be risk factors of SCC with strong antagonistic joint effect. Non-differential misclassification in serology for HPV16 could be ruled out (but only some types of differential) as an alternative explanation for the observed antagonism.