CT043, a protective antigen that induces a CD4+ Th1 response during Chlamydia trachomatis infection in mice and humans

Infect Immun. 2009 Sep;77(9):4168-76. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00344-09. Epub 2009 Jul 13.

Abstract

Despite several decades of intensive studies, no vaccines against Chlamydia trachomatis, an intracellular pathogen causing serious ocular and urogenital diseases, are available yet. Infection-induced immunity in both animal models and humans strongly supports the notion that for a vaccine to be effective a strong CD4(+) Th1 immune response should be induced. In the course of our vaccine screening program based on the selection of chlamydial proteins eliciting cell-mediated immunity, we have found that CT043, a protein annotated as hypothetical, induces CD4(+) Th1 cells both in chlamydia-infected mice and in human patients with diagnosed C. trachomatis genital infection. DNA priming/protein boost immunization with CT043 results in a 2.6-log inclusion-forming unit reduction in the murine lung infection model. Sequence analysis of CT043 from C. trachomatis human isolates belonging to the most representative genital serovars revealed a high degree of conservation, suggesting that this antigen could provide cross-serotype protection. Therefore, CT043 is a promising vaccine candidate against C. trachomatis infection.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Bacterial Vaccines / immunology
  • Chlamydia Infections / immunology*
  • Chlamydia muridarum / immunology
  • Chlamydia trachomatis / immunology*
  • Female
  • Genital Diseases, Female / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Porins / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Vaccines
  • Porins
  • omp1 protein, Chlamydia trachomatis
  • Interferon-gamma