title: Discovery of a vaccine antigen that protects mice from Chlamydia pneumoniae infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital Campus, 1 Aspenlea Rd., Hammersmith, London W8 8LH, UK.
authors.forename: Callum
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Snelgrove
authors.forename: Oretta
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Finco
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rae
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grandi
authors.forename: Ratti
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guilio
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hussell
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines; C545954:LcrE protein, Chlamydophila pneumoniae