Identification of an iron-responsive protein that is antigenic in patients with Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections.
Chlamydia trachomatis is an important cause of immune-mediated damage to the reproductive tract of infected patients. Certain chlamydial antigens and host genetic factors have been identified as contributing to immunopathological events, but a comprehensive understanding of specific components involved in destructive vs. protective immune responses to chlamydial infections is far from clear. In this study, it is shown that C. trachomatis-infected patients generate antibodies against an iron-responsive chlamydial protein, YtgA. The identity of YtgA was confirmed by mass spectrometry following two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis. This finding underscores a necessity to examine patient sera samples to identify chlamydial antigens that are likely encountered and important to the immune response during human infections.
Raulston
Jane E
JE
Department of Microbiology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, TN 37614-0579, USA.
Miller
Jeffrey D
JD
Davis
Caroyn H
CH
Schell
Maria
M
Baldwin
Amy
A
Ferguson
Kaethe
K
Lane
Heather
H
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008219:Lymphogranuloma Venereum / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D033862:Iron-Binding Proteins; C526659:YtgA protein, Chlamydia trachomatis