Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dung T. Huynh, Wouter S. P. Jong, Gregory M. Koningstein, Peter van Ulsen, Joen Luirink
Summary: Ct-MOMP, a promising subunit-based vaccine candidate, is difficult to express in its native structure in E. coli outer membrane. Co-expression of the Bam complex improved the expression and localization of recombinant Ct-MOMP, leading to correct folding and assembly into a beta-barrel conformation at the cell surface.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Delia F. Tifrea, Wei He, Sukumar Pal, Angela C. Evans, Sean F. Gilmore, Nicholas O. Fischer, Amy Rasley, Matthew A. Coleman, Luis M. de la Maza
Summary: Researchers developed a cell-free co-translational system using tNLP to express the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia muridarum, MOMP. The study demonstrated the protective ability of MOMP-tNLP+CpG+FSL-1 against intranasal challenge of C. muridarum in mice, showing significant immune responses and protection effects. This study marks the first successful demonstration of a MOMP-based vaccine formulated in tNLP providing protection against C. muridarum.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Lind Throne Degn, Ditte Bech, Gunna Christiansen, Svend Birkelund
Summary: Chlamydia trachomatis is the major cause of sexually transmitted diseases and understanding the role of antibodies in its infection process is important for vaccine development. By investigating the specificity and binding characteristics of two monoclonal antibodies against the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of C. trachomatis, this study provides insights into the protective contribution of antibodies and their limitations in reducing infectivity.
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Anatoli Slepenkin, Sukumar Pal, Steven Hoang-Phou, Abisola Abisoye-Ogunniyan, Amy Rasley, Patrik D'haeseleer, Matthew A. Coleman, Luis M. de la Maza
Summary: Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted pathogen, and a safer and more effective vaccine is urgently needed. This study found that the antigens PmpG and Pgp3, alone or in combination with MOMP, elicited weaker immune responses, while vaccination with MOMP induced a robust immune response and protected against a respiratory challenge with C. muridarum. Pgp3 antagonized the protection induced by MOMP.
Article
Microbiology
Sukumar Pal, Anatoli Slepenkin, Jiin Felgner, D. Huw Davies, Philip Felgner, Luis M. de la Maza
Summary: There is an urgent need to develop a vaccine for Chlamydia infections. Four adjuvant combinations were tested for their local reactogenicity and ability to elicit protection against C. muridarum in mice. IVAX-1 and IVAX-2 showed minimal local reactogenicity, while vaccines containing Montanide resulted in the formation of local granuloma. The Th1-biased immune responses were observed in all four adjuvant combinations.
Article
Immunology
Rajnish Sahu, Saurabh Dixit, Richa Verma, Skyla A. Duncan, Lula Smith, Guillermo H. Giambartolomei, Shree R. Singh, Vida A. Dennis
Summary: The PLGA-rMOMP nanovaccine demonstrated protective efficacy in mice against genital Chlamydia challenges by enhancing immune responses and inducing specific Th1 cytokines, antibodies, and T-cell phenotypes. The vaccine also showed potential for developing a nano-based Chlamydia vaccine by triggering cellular and humoral immune effectors through extended-releasing PLGA encapsulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Romina Cecilia Russi, Diego Del Balzo, Agustin Lujan, Ivana Gabriela Reidel, Maria Ines Garcia, Carolina Veaute, Maria Teresa Damiani
Summary: By using a heterologous prime-boost strategy, a vaccine based on FPmpD has shown strong immunogenicity in a mouse model and effectively inhibits the spread of Ct infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Irina Matveeva, Nikolai Nikitin, Ekaterina Evtushenko, Karim Azimov, Alexey Zaberezhny, Olesya Bogomolova, Maria Kruglova, Vladimir Yeremets, Evgeniya Markova, Natalia Yeremets
Summary: The study demonstrated that PCR and direct immunofluorescence testing for C. abortus infection in sheep in the Mari El Republic of Russia is a more effective and faster method, highlighting the importance of screening for chlamydiosis as a cause of ovine abortion.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jessica V. Pierce, Justin D. Fellows, D. Eric Anderson, Harris D. Bernstein
Summary: This study elucidates the synthesis and cleavage mechanism of Bacteroides fragilistoxin (BFT), as well as its impact on the release of other proteins, indicating that Fpn plays a critical role in regulating cellular physiology.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yixiao Huang, Fanchao Zhu, Jin Koh, Daniel Stanton, Sixue Chen, Nian Wang
Summary: This study reveals that Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) is caused by Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) triggering immune responses rather than directly containing pathogenicity factors. The researchers used Liberibacter crescens (Lcr) as a surrogate to identify proteins of Las and discovered potential proteins that may interact with host proteins in the phloem tissues.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
M. Paula Goetting-Minesky, Valentina Godovikova, Wei Zheng, J. Christopher Fenno
Summary: The major surface protein (Msp) of Treponema denticola, a keystone pathogen in periodontitis, is characterized in this study through fine-scale mutagenesis and predictive molecular modeling. A high-confidence model of the Msp protein as an oligomer embedded in the outer membrane is presented. This research contributes to the understanding of Msp-like proteins in oral treponemes and may shed light on the evolutionary and potential functional relationships between T. denticola Msp and the orthologous T. pallidum Tpr proteins.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Changqing Liu, Rob Mesman, Arjan Pol, Federica Angius, Huub J. M. Op den Camp
Summary: In this study, a major outer membrane protein (WP_009059494) from Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV was identified and characterized. The protein was found to be mainly present in the outer membrane and resistant to harsh conditions, suggesting its role in resisting extreme environmental conditions. Additionally, the absence of specific proteins in the canonical BAM complex was observed in the Methylacidiphilum and Methylacidimicrobium species.
ANTONIE VAN LEEUWENHOEK INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL AND MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Taylor Devlin, Dagan C. Marx, Michaela A. Roskopf, Quenton R. Bubb, Ashlee M. Plummer, Karen G. Fleming
Summary: The biogenesis of outer membrane proteins (OMP) in gram-negative bacteria is regulated by a network of periplasmic chaperones, including SurA, Skp, and FkpA. FkpA acts as a chaperone and influences the folding trajectory of OMPs by increasing the folded yield but decreasing the folding rate. It binds to OMPs with an intermediate affinity and has an extensive binding interface.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Meixue Yao, Xiaohan Guo, Xiling Wu, Qiongqiong Bai, Mingjun Sun, Dehui Yin
Summary: This study evaluated the efficiency of different combinations of Brucella major outer membrane proteins (omps) in serodiagnosis for brucellosis. The results showed that the omp25/omp31/BP26 combination had the best diagnostic effectiveness for human brucellosis. The combination of omp31/BP26 was the most effective for diagnosing brucellosis in goat and cattle.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sunyia Hussain, Janine H. Peterson, Harris D. Bernstein
Summary: The assembly of trimeric porins involves a stepwise process that requires the presence of the Bam complex and LPS. The interaction with LPS is not only essential for trimerization but also for the productive insertion of individual subunits into the lipid bilayer.
Article
Immunology
Lynn Nazareth, Heidi Walkden, Anu Chacko, Ali Delbaz, Todd Shelper, Charles W. Armitage, Ronak Reshamwala, Logan K. Trim, James A. St John, Kenneth W. Beagley, Jenny A. K. Ekberg
Summary: Chlamydia pneumoniae can infect the brain through olfactory nerve invasion, as demonstrated in mice within 48 h. Glial cells of olfactory and trigeminal nerves show differential responses to C. muridarum infection, potentially influencing the bacteria's ability to evade immune functions and invade nerves.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Xavier Romand, Xiao Liu, M. Arifur Rahman, Zaied Ahmed Bhuyan, Claire Douillard, Reena Arora Kedia, Nathan Stone, Dominique Roest, Zi Huai Chew, Amy J. Cameron, Linda M. Rehaume, Aurelie Bozon, Mohammed Habib, Charles W. Armitage, Minh Vu Chuong Nguyen, Bertrand Favier, Kenneth Beagley, Max Maurin, Philippe Gaudin, Ranjeny Thomas, Timothy J. Wells, Athan Baillet
Summary: SKG mice infected with C muridarum showed higher bacterial load compared to BALB/c mice. While proinflammatory IL-23 produced by neutrophils contributed to C muridarum-mediated reactive arthritis initiation, macrophage depletion reduced bacterial dissemination and arthritis development. TNF inhibition was also effective in suppressing arthritis development in this model.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Samuel Phillips, Peter Timms, Martina Jelocnik
Summary: A significant threat to wild koala populations is infection from Chlamydia, which can lead to high mortality rates of up to 50%; the development of reproductive cysts is a major contributor to this high mortality, with limited diagnostic methods available.
Article
Developmental Biology
Lyndal Hulse, Kenneth W. Beagley, Rebecca Larkin, Stephen D. Johnston
Summary: This study investigated the transmission of Chlamydia pecorum infection through koala semen and found that venereal transmission is possible. Antimicrobial factors and innate immune function receptors associated with semen may inhibit chlamydial growth.
REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anu Chacko, Ali Delbaz, Heidi Walkden, Souptik Basu, Charles W. Armitage, Tanja Eindorf, Logan K. Trim, Edith Miller, Nicholas P. West, James A. St John, Kenneth W. Beagley, Jenny A. K. Ekberg
Summary: Chlamydia pneumoniae can infect the central nervous system (CNS) and may contribute to late-onset dementia. This study reveals that the olfactory and trigeminal nerves, as well as the olfactory bulb and brain, serve as invasion paths for C. pneumoniae to rapidly infect the CNS. Additionally, C. pneumoniae infection leads to dysregulation of key pathways associated with Alzheimer's disease, and amyloid beta accumulations are detected in close proximity to the C. pneumoniae inclusions in the olfactory system.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Rhys T. White, Alistair R. Legione, Alyce Taylor-Brown, Cristina M. Fernandez, Damien P. Higgins, Peter Timms, Martina Jelocnik
Summary: This study used whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics to analyze two complete C. pecorum genomes collected from diseased koalas, revealing biogeographical separation between strains from koalas and livestock hosts, as well as genetic diversity among different koala strains.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luke W. Silver, Yuanyuan Cheng, Bonnie L. Quigley, Amy Robbins, Peter Timms, Carolyn J. Hogg, Katherine Belov
Summary: This study investigates the differences in response to Chlamydia in koala populations, identifying genes associated with disease progression and resolution. The findings deepen our understanding of the role of genetics in disease spread in koalas, which can contribute to better vaccine design and population management in the future.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Lyndal Hulse, Chiara Palmieri, Kenneth W. Beagley, Rebecca Larkin, Tamara Keeley, Jaime Gosalvez, Stephen D. Johnston
Summary: The study suggests that Chlamydia infection and inflammation may not be the predominant reason for disruption to spermatogenesis in wild koalas, with testicular degeneration and atrophy appearing to be the primary cause of decreased sperm concentration, regardless of Chlamydia infection.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Sara Pagliarani, Stephen D. Johnston, Kenneth W. Beagley, Lyndal Hulse, Chiara Palmieri
Summary: Chlamydia infection causes cystic dilation of the ovarian bursa in female koalas, resulting in structural changes and altered expression of epithelial cell markers and cellular junctions. These changes may impair fertility and indicate the molecular basis of the pathological accumulation of bursal fluid.
Article
Immunology
Freya A. Russell, Logan K. Trim, Flavia Medeiros Savi, Craig Simon, Tim R. Dargaville, Dietmar W. Hutmacher, Kenneth W. Beagley
Summary: A study shows that a new vaccine implant system can provide both the primary immunization and delayed delivery of a booster dose at the same time, without the need for further handling of animals. Compared to traditional primary and booster vaccination regimens, this system demonstrated similar weight gain and T cell proliferation, but some differences were observed in serum IgG antibody responses.
VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Peter B. M. Mulvey, Logan K. Trim, John G. Aaskov, Emily R. Bryan, Emma L. Sweeney, Avinash Kollipara, Mark B. Plenderleith, Frank E. Aldwell, Kenneth W. Beagley
Summary: This study investigated the potential of oral immunization with a novel lipid adjuvant followed by local vaginal application of inflammatory agents to protect against primary HSV-2 infections. The results showed that this vaccination strategy provided complete protection against wild-type HSV-2 and prevented viral dissemination to the spinal cords.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Vasilli Kasimov, Michelle Wille, Subir Sarker, Yalun Dong, Renfu Shao, Clancy Hall, Dominique Potvin, Gabriel Conroy, Ludovica Valenza, Amber Gillett, Peter Timms, Martina Jelocnik
Summary: Birds in Australia can harbor a variety of pathogens, including Chlamydiaceae, beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), avipoxviruses, Columbid alphaherpesvirus 1 (CoAHV1), and Psittacid alphaherpesvirus 1 (PsAHV1), which pose a significant biosecurity concern. Through screening wild Australian birds, PsAHV1 was detected for the first time (37/486; 7.61%), along with BFDV (163/468; 33.54%), Chlamydiaceae (98/468; 20.16%), avipoxviruses (46/486; 9.47%), and CoAHV1 (43/486; 8.85%). These findings highlight the high pathogen diversity, ecology, and potential spillover of these pathogens into novel host species, causing disease.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Emily R. Bryan, Logan K. Trim, Pawel Sadowski, Selvam Paramasivan, Jay J. Kim, Kyle Gough, Sophia Worley, Toby Maidment, Alison J. Carey, Bettina Mihalas, Eileen A. McLaughlin, Kenneth W. Beagley
Summary: In this study, the long-term effects of vaccination with chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) and ISCOMATRIX (IMX) on male mice were investigated. The results showed that vaccination reduced and cleared chlamydial infection in the prostate, epididymis, and testes, protected sperm health and fertility, and altered immune responses in the spleen and testicular tissue. The study also demonstrated the presence of specific plasma cells in the testes, indicating the importance of vaccination in maintaining testicular function and protecting male fertility.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Charles W. Armitage, Alison J. Carey, Emily R. Bryan, Avinash Kollipara, Logan K. Trim, Kenneth W. Beagley
Summary: Urogenital chlamydial infections are increasing annually, affecting over 127 million people, leading to significant economic and public health pressures. The role of lipid antigens in immunity during these infections remains unclear. However, the study suggests that non-invariant NKT cells play an immunopathogenic role in urogenital chlamydial infections, facilitated by lipid presentation via CD1d on infected antigen-presenting cells.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Toby I. Maidment, Emily R. Bryan, Michael Pyne, Michele Barnes, Sarah Eccleston, Samantha Cunningham, Emma Whitlock, Kelsie Redman, Vere Nicolson, Kenneth W. Beagley, Elise Pelzer
Summary: This study provides the first cultivation-independent characterization of the koala pouch microbiota and its association with reproductive outcomes, highlighting the link between pathogenic bacterial overgrowth in the pouch and neonatal mortality in captive koalas.
