title: Chlamydia trachomatis infection induces replication of latent HHV-6.
abstract: Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) exists in latent form either as a nuclear episome or integrated into human chromosomes in more than 90% of healthy individuals without causing clinical symptoms. Immunosuppression and stress conditions can reactivate HHV-6 replication, associated with clinical complications and even death. We have previously shown that co-infection of Chlamydia trachomatis and HHV-6 promotes chlamydial persistence and increases viral uptake in an in vitro cell culture model. Here we investigated C. trachomatis-induced HHV-6 activation in cell lines and fresh blood samples from patients having Chromosomally integrated HHV-6 (CiHHV-6). We observed activation of latent HHV-6 DNA replication in CiHHV-6 cell lines and fresh blood cells without formation of viral particles. Interestingly, we detected HHV-6 DNA in blood as well as cervical swabs from C. trachomatis-infected women. Low virus titers correlated with high C. trachomatis load and vice versa, demonstrating a potentially significant interaction of these pathogens in blood cells and in the cervix of infected patients. Our data suggest a thus far underestimated interference of HHV-6 and C. trachomatis with a likely impact on the disease outcome as consequence of co-infection.
authors.affiliation: Biocenter, Chair of Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Bhupesh K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Prusty
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Siegl
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hauck
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hain
authors.forename: Suvi J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Korhonen
authors.forename: Eija
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hiltunen-Back
authors.forename: Mirja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puolakkainen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rudel
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002460:Cell Line; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000502:physiology*; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics; D004261:DNA Replication; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D019562:Viral Load / Q000502:physiology; D014771:Virion / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral