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Infection and Immunity, June 2008, p. 2746-2757, Vol. 76, No. 6
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00010-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of Fifty Putative Inclusion Membrane Proteins Encoded in the Chlamydia trachomatis Genome{triangledown}

Zhongyu Li,1,2,3 Chaoqun Chen,3 Ding Chen,1 Yimou Wu,3 Youmin Zhong,1 and Guangming Zhong1*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78229,1 Department of Parasitology, Xiangya Medical School, The Central South University, 168 Tongzipo Rd., Changsha, China,2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South China, 28 West Changshen Rd., Hengyang, Hunan, China3

Received 3 January 2008/ Returned for modification 2 February 2008/ Accepted 22 March 2008

Although the Chlamydia trachomatis genome is predicted to encode 50 inclusion membrane proteins, only 18 have been experimentally localized in the inclusion membrane of C. trachomatis-infected cells. Using fusion proteins and anti-fusion protein antibodies, we have systematically evaluated all 50 putative inclusion membrane proteins for their localization in the infected cells, distribution patterns, and effects on subsequent chlamydial infection when expressed ectopically, as well as their immunogenicity during chlamydial infection in humans. Twenty-two of the 50 proteins were localized in the inclusion membrane, and 7 were detected inside the inclusions, while the location of the remaining 21 was not defined. Four (CT225, CT228, CT358, and CT440) of the 22 inclusion membrane-localized proteins were visualized in the inclusion membrane of Chlamydia-infected cells for the first time in the current study. The seven intra-inclusion-localized proteins were confirmed to be chlamydial organism proteins in a Western blot assay. Further characterization of the 50 proteins revealed that neither colocalization with host cell endoplasmic reticulum nor inhibition of subsequent chlamydial infection by ectopically expressed proteins correlated with the inclusion membrane localization. Interestingly, antibodies from women with C. trachomatis urogenital infection preferentially recognized proteins localized in the inclusion membrane, and the immunodominant regions were further mapped to the region predicted to be on the cytoplasmic side of the inclusion membrane. These observations suggest that most of the inclusion membrane-localized proteins are both expressed and immunogenic during C. trachomatis infection in humans and that the cytoplasmic exposure may enhance the immunogenicity.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229. Phone: (210) 567-1169. Fax: (210) 567-0293. E-mail: Zhongg{at}UTHSCSA.EDU

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 7 April 2008.

Editor: S. R. Blanke

Infection and Immunity, June 2008, p. 2746-2757, Vol. 76, No. 6
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00010-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Hasegawa, A., Sogo, L. F., Tan, M., Sutterlin, C. (2009). Host Complement Regulatory Protein CD59 Is Transported to the Chlamydial Inclusion by a Golgi Apparatus-Independent Pathway. Infect. Immun. 77: 1285-1292 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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