Identification of T cells that respond to serovar-specific regions of the Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein in persons with serovar E infection.
Protection from Chlamydia trachomatis infection is serovar-specific and T cell-dependent; however, the T cell epitopes identified to date have not been serovar-specific. The chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP) contains serovar-specific B cell epitopes in four regions of the molecule whose amino acid sequence varies among serovars, the variable segments (VS). Serovar-specific T cell epitopes were sought by examining proliferation of blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Chlamydia-infected patients in response to VS peptides of serovar E MOMP. Serovar E-specific peptides from VS1, VS2, and VS4 stimulated PBMC to a greater extent in serovar E-infected than in non-E-infected subjects. Peptides containing constant regions of MOMP were recognized equally by all infected persons. The observed responses were attributable to T cells. T cell recognition of serovar-specific regions of MOMP is common and may contribute to the serovar-specific protection previously observed.
Arno
J N
JN
Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. jarno@iupui.edu
Xie
C
C
Jones
R B
RB
Van Der Pol
B
B
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D012703:Serotyping; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D000939:Epitopes; D010446:Peptide Fragments