Vaginal Gel Component Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Significantly Enhances the Infectivity of Chlamydia trachomatis Serovars D and E

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 Dec 21;63(1):e02034-18. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02034-18. Print 2019 Jan.

Abstract

The transmission of the urogenital serovars of Chlamydia trachomatis can be significantly influenced by vaginal gels. Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a commonly used gelling agent that can be found in vaginal gels. Hydroxyethyl cellulose showed a concentration-dependent growth-enhancing effect on C. trachomatis serovars D and E, with a 26.1-fold maximal increase in vitro and a 2.57-fold increase in vivo.

Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis; hydroxyethyl cellulose; infectivity; vaginal gel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cellulose / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cellulose / pharmacology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / classification
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / drug effects*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / growth & development
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / pathogenicity
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • Culture Media / pharmacology
  • Female
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Serogroup
  • Vagina / drug effects*
  • Vagina / microbiology
  • Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / chemistry*
  • Virulence / drug effects

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies
  • Cellulose
  • hydroxyethylcellulose