Plasmid-Encoded Pgp5 Is a Significant Contributor to Chlamydia muridarum Induction of Hydrosalpinx

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 27;10(4):e0124840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124840. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

We have previously shown that the plasmid-encoded Pgp3 is a major virulence factor for C. muridarum induction of hydrosalpinx. We now report that Pgp5 also plays a significant role in the development of hydrosalpinx following C. muridarum induction. Pgp5 deficiency was introduced via either in-frame deletion (CM-Δpgp5) or premature stop codon installation (CM-pgp5S). Mice infected with either CM-Δpgp5 or CM-pgp5S developed hydrosalpinges at significantly reduced levels with an incidence rate of <40% and a mean severity score of 2 or less. In contrast, 80% or more mice developed hydrosalpinx with a severity score of >3 when mice were infected with Pgp5-sufficient C. muridarum (plasmid-competent wild type or plasmid-free C. muridarum transformed with a full plasmid or depleted of pgp7 gene). The attenuated pathogenicity of the Pgp5-deficient C. muridarum correlated with a significantly reduced level of ascending infection in the oviduct tissue despite the similar overall shedding courses between mice infected with Pgp5-deficient versus sufficient C. muridarum. Furthermore, in the oviducts of mice infected with Pgp5-deficient C. muridarum, significantly lower levels of inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine production were detected. Thus, Pgp5 is a significant plasmid-encoded virulence factor for C. muridarum pathogenicity in the upper genital tract.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlamydia Infections / microbiology*
  • Chlamydia muridarum / genetics
  • Chlamydia muridarum / pathogenicity*
  • Fallopian Tubes / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Virulence Factors