DNA immunization with pgp3 gene of Chlamydia trachomatis inhibits the spread of chlamydial infection from the lower to the upper genital tract in C3H/HeN mice.
Chlamydia trachomatis pgp3 DNA immunized (no. 300) and non-immunized (no. 300) C3H/HeN mice were infected by vaginal inoculation with infectious C. trachomatis serotype D elementary bodies (EBs) and the spread of infection to the salpinges was assessed by cell culture isolation from tissue homogenates 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days post-infection (p.i.). Overall, the pgp3-DNA immunization prevented salpinx infection in 94 (56%) mice, if compared with the 168 positive animals found among the non-immunized animals (P < 0.001). A group of negative control animals (i.e. mice immunized with plasmid DNA containing an irrelevant insert) was not protected, whereas all the mice of a positive immune control group (mice that had resolved a primary genital C. trachomatis infection) were resistant to re-infection. Pgp3 DNA immunization induced both humoral and mucosal anti-pgp3 antibodies.
Donati
Manuela
M
Sezione di Microbiologia DMCSS, University of Bologna, Ospedale Policlinico S Orsola, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
Sambri
Vittorio
V
Comanducci
Maurizio
M
Di Leo
Korinne
K
Storni
Elisa
E
Giacani
Lorenzo
L
Ratti
Giulio
G
Cevenini
Roberto
R
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D007114:Immunization; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D000292:Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012488:Salpingitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C082169:pgp3 protein, Chlamydia