title: Imiquimod does not affect shedding of viable chlamydiae in a murine model of Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We postulated that either oral or vaginal administration of the immune response modifier imiquimod would decrease vaginal shedding of Chlamydia trachomatis, mouse pneumonitis strain (MoPn), in a murine model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female BALB/c mice were infected intravaginally with C. trachomatis (MoPn) and were administered imiquimod either orally (30 mg/kg) or vaginally (10 microl of 5% imiquimod cream) prior to infection and every second day after infection for a total of four doses. The course of infection was monitored by collecting cervical-vaginal swabs and isolation in HeLa 229 cell culture. To determine whether the drug affected T helper type 1 or T helper type 2 immune response polarization, immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclass antibody responses were assessed at day 56 after infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the course of infection when imiquimod-treated mice were compared with sham-treated controls, regardless of whether the drug was administered orally or vaginally. IgG subclass antibody responses, and by extension, T helper type 1 to T helper type 2 immune response polarization, were also unaffected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imiquimod has no efficacy in controlling C. trachomatis (MoPn) infection in the murine model.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. kramse@midwestern.edu
authors: Kyle H
authors: KH
authors: Ramsey
authors: Namir
authors: N
authors: Shaba
authors: Kevin P
authors: KP
authors: Cohoon
authors: Kevin A
authors: KA
authors: Ault
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D000077271:Imiquimod; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000634:Aminoquinolines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D000077271:Imiquimod