title: Chlamydia psittaci: new insights into genomic diversity, clinical pathology, host-pathogen interaction and anti-bacterial immunity.
abstract: The distinctive and unique features of the avian and mammalian zoonotic pathogen Chlamydia (C.) psittaci include the fulminant course of clinical disease, the remarkably wide host range and the high proportion of latent infections that are not leading to overt disease. Current knowledge on associated diseases is rather poor, even in comparison to other chlamydial agents. In the present paper, we explain and summarize the major findings of a national research network that focused on the elucidation of host-pathogen interactions in vitro and in animal models of C. psittaci infection, with the objective of improving our understanding of genomics, pathology, pathophysiology, molecular pathogenesis and immunology, and conceiving new approaches to therapy. We discuss new findings on comparative genome analysis, the complexity of pathophysiological interactions and systemic consequences, local immune response, the role of the complement system and antigen presentation pathways in the general context of state-of-the-art knowledge on chlamydial infections in humans and animals and single out relevant research topics to fill remaining knowledge gaps on this important yet somewhat neglected pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Isle of Riems, Germany. Electronic address: michael.knittler@fli.bund.de.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Knittler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berndt
authors.affiliation: Hans Knöll Institute, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Böcker
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dutow
authors.affiliation: Hans Knöll Institute, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hänel
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heuer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Isle of Riems, Germany.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kägebein
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klos
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liebler-Tenorio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ostermann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reinhold
authors.affiliation: Hans Knöll Institute, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Saluz
authors.affiliation: Hans Knöll Institute, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schöfl
authors.affiliation: Hans Knöll Institute, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sehnert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Jena, Germany. Electronic address: konrad.sachse@fli.bund.de.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sachse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002691:Chlamydophila psittaci / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D023281:Genomics; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D010338:Pathology, Clinical; D009956:Psittacosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Animal models; Antigen presentation; Chlamydia psittaci; Host adaptation; Immune response; Molecular pathogenesis