Identification of human T cell targets recognized during Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection.
The specificity of the human T cell response to Chlamydia trachomatis was investigated by stimulating lymphocytes from 16 case patients with urogenital infection by use of a size-fractionated serovar D lysate. Considerable heterogeneity was found among case patients, and multiple protein fractions were recognized in each specimen. Mass spectrometry analysis of the 30-42-kDa T cell-stimulating region identified 10 C. trachomatis proteins. Of these, CT583, CT603, and CT610 were identified as strong antigens that induced significantly higher levels of IFN- gamma secretion in PBMCs from case patients, compared with PBMCs from control donors. All 3 proteins were recognized in specimens from case patients infected with serovars D-F, the most prevalent serovars. McDonald-Kreitman and Tajima's D tests involving clinical isolates from the same samples showed evidence for frequency-dependent selection on ct583. We predict that CT583 is a target of acquired protective immune responses in humans.
Olsen
Anja Weinreich
AW
Chlamydia Research Group, Department of Infectious Disease Immunology, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Follmann
Frank
F
Højrup
Peter
P
Leah
Robert
R
Sand
Carsten
C
Andersen
Peter
P
Theisen
Michael
M
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial