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Infection and Immunity, July 2008, p. 2872-2881, Vol. 76, No. 7
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.00129-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Late Endocytic Multivesicular Bodies Intersect the Chlamydial Inclusion in the Absence of CD63

Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110

Received 30 January 2008/ Returned for modification 13 March 2008/ Accepted 14 April 2008

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens that replicate solely within a membrane-bound vacuole termed an inclusion. Within the confines of the inclusion, the replicating bacteria acquire amino acids, nucleotides, and other precursors from the host cell. Trafficking from CD63-positive multivesicular bodies to the inclusion was previously identified as a novel interaction that provided essential precursors for the maintenance of a productive intracellular infection. The present study analyzes the direct delivery of resident protein and lipid constituents of multivesicular bodies to the intracellular chlamydiae. The manipulation of this trafficking pathway with an inhibitor of multivesicular body transport and the delivery of exogenous antibodies altered protein and cholesterol acquisition and delayed the maturation of the chlamydial inclusion. Although inhibitor studies and ultrastructural analyses confirmed a novel interaction between CD63-positive multivesicular bodies and the intracellular chlamydiae, neutralization with small interfering RNAs and anti-CD63 Fab fragments revealed that CD63 itself was not required for this association. These studies confirm CD63 as a constituent in multivesicular body-to-inclusion transport; however, other requisite components of these host cell compartments must control the delivery of key nutrients that are essential to intracellular bacterial development.

Published ahead of print on 21 April 2008.

Editor: R. P. Morrison