title: Chlamydial protease-like activity factor mediated protection against C. trachomatis in guinea pigs.
abstract: We have comprehensively demonstrated using the mouse model that intranasal immunization with recombinant chlamydial protease-like activity factor (rCPAF) leads to a significant reduction in bacterial burden, genital tract pathology and preserves fertility following intravaginal genital chlamydial challenge. In the present report, we evaluated the protective efficacy of rCPAF immunization in guinea pigs, a second animal model for genital chlamydial infection. Using a vaccination strategy similar to the mouse model, we intranasally immunized female guinea pigs with rCPAF plus CpG deoxynucleotides (CpG; as an adjuvant), and challenged intravaginally with C. trachomatis serovar D (CT-D). Immunization with rCPAF/CpG significantly reduced vaginal CT-D shedding and induced resolution of infection by day 24, compared with day 33 in CpG alone treated and challenged animals. Immunization induced robust anti-rCPAF serum IgG 2 weeks following the last immunization, and was sustained at a high-level 4 weeks post challenge. Upregulation of antigen-specific IFN-γ gene expression was observed in rCPAF/CpG-vaccinated splenocytes. Importantly, a significant reduction in inflammation in the genital tissue in rCPAF/CpG-immunized guinea pigs compared with CpG-immunized animals was observed. Taken together, this study provides evidence of the protective efficacy of rCPAF as a vaccine candidate in a second animal model of genital chlamydial infection.
authors.affiliation: South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Shradha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.affiliation: South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Rishein
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jieh-Juen
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8901-3366
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Gopala Krishna Koundinya
authors.initials: GKK
authors.lastname: Lanka
authors.affiliation: South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.affiliation: South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: M Neal
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Guentzel
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Guangming
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Ashlesh K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.affiliation: South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases and Center for Excellence in Infection Genomics, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Bernard P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Arulanandam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000502:physiology*; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005835:Genitalia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007114:Immunization; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C408982:CPG-oligonucleotide; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010450:Endopeptidases; C425923:CPA factor