The immunopathologic sequelae of chlamydial infection are correlated with immune responses to the Chlamydia trachomatis heat shock protein 60 (hsp60). One pathogenic mechanism that may explain this association is the induction of autoimmune responses to self hsp60, since these two proteins share a high degree of amino acid sequence identity. To investigate the conditions under which autoimmune ...

The circulating B-cell responses to Chlamydia trachomatis of 60 children and 34 adults in The Gambia were characterized in a cross-sectional study of different grades of trachoma, using the enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay. Antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) specific to chlamydial major outer membrane protein (MOMP), heat shock protein 60, and whole elementary bodies were detected in child...

Introduction: Chlamydial infections are the most common sexually transmitted diseases with highest rates of morbidity in different societies. Chlamydia trachomatis is a known causative agent for premature rapture of membranes (PROM), preterm labor, miscarriage, low birth weight and neonatal death, and forms a copious burden of disease in many countries. This study aims to evaluate the prevalenc...

We performed a multicenter evaluation of ligase chain reaction (LCR) in the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the cervix. This LCR provides an amplification of target sequences within the chlamydial cryptic plasmid. The LCR results were compared with those of isolation in cell culture. Discrepant (tissue culture-negative and LCR-positive) test results were resolved by the applicat...

The presence of a chlamydia-specified antigen associated with the plasma membrane of infected cell lines was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence staining with a monoclonal antibody, designated 47A2, specific for the chlamydial genus-specific lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen. Staining of HeLa, L-929, and McCoy cells infected with the L2 or F serovar of Chlamydia trachomatis was observed ...

Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes tolerate different stress conditions (e.g., metabolic, environmental and pathophysiological stress) by up-regulating the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs). These proteins are divided into six main families such as Hsp100, Hsp90, Hsp70, Hsp60, Hsp40 and small heat shock proteins (sHsps) based on their molecular weights (MW) and sequence homology [1, 2]. Amo...

Guinea pig boars were inoculated intraurethrally with the chlamydial agent of guinea pig inclusion conjunctivitis (GPIC). At the heights of their urethral infections, they were caged with sows in estrus. Whereas some of the sows had not been previously exposed to GPIC agent, others had received an intravaginal inoculation 5 to 8 weeks earlier. Those sows for which infected boars provided the fi...

Tubal factors are associated with infertility. To evaluate the influence of past Chlamydial infections on female fertility with unilateral tubal occlusion, we compared the cumulative pregnancy rate of Chlamydia antibody seropositive women with those who are seronegative. A retrospective, case-controlled study was designed. A total of 54 consecutive infertile women with unilateral tubal occlusio...

IgG antibody titres against Chlamydia trachomatis were measured using a whole inclusion assay (Electro-Nucleonics Laboratories, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) in single serum samples of patients who presented for termination of pregnancy with evidence of infection with this organism (case group) and of 30 women with no evidence of infection (control group). Case and control patients were matched for ...

The prevalence of type-specific antichlamydial antibody in a population of blood donors in London was studied using a microimmunofluorescence test. Twenty-six (17%) of 150 women and 38 (26%) of 150 men had antichlamydial antibody (IgG at greater than or equal to 1/16 or IgM greater than or equal to 1/8 or both). Of these, five (3%) women had one (0.75%) man had this antibody directed against Ch...