Discovery of a vaccine antigen that protects mice from Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.
Chlamydiae are atypical intracellular bacteria that infect via mucosal surfaces causing, for example, trachoma, pneumonia, cervicitis, urethritis and infertility. Existing antibiotics are only partially effective and no vaccines are available. Using surface expressed or secreted proteins previously identified by genomics and proteomics we tested five as vaccines against intranasal challenge with Chlamydia pneumoniae. One antigen, LcrE, induced CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation, type 1 cytokine secretion and neutralising antibodies and was completely effective in eliminating infection. Such antigens are highly conserved and essential to all Chlamydial species. The discovery of an effective vaccine for Chlamydiae pneumoniae has potential wide benefits for human health.
Thorpe
Callum
C
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital Campus, 1 Aspenlea Rd., Hammersmith, London W8 8LH, UK.
Edwards
Lorna
L
Snelgrove
Robert
R
Finco
Oretta
O
Rae
Aaron
A
Grandi
Guido
G
Guilio
Ratti
R
Hussell
Tracy
T
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines; C545954:LcrE protein, Chlamydophila pneumoniae