Chlamydia trachomatispolymorphic membrane protein D is a species-common pan-neutralizing antigen

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0508983103
• Publication Date: 2006-01-31T02:03:29Z
• Authors: Deborah D. Crane; John H. Carlson; Elizabeth R. Fischer; Patrik Bavoil; Ru-ching Hsia; Chun Tan; Cho-chou Kuo; Harlan D. Caldwell
• Keywords: Lipopolysaccharides; 0301 basic medicine; Titrimetry; Chlamydia trachomatis; Blood Proteins; Antibodies; Cell Line; 3. Good health; Microscopy, Electron; 03 medical and health sciences; Neutralization Tests; Animals; Humans; Rabbits; Antigens; Genome, Bacterial; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins

Infections caused by the obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis have a marked impact on human health. C. serovariants are leading cause of bacterial sexually transmitted disease and infectious preventable blindness. Despite decades effort, there is no practical vaccine against diseases. Here we report that all reference serotypes responsible for blinding trachoma synthesize highly conserved surface-exposed antigen termed polymorphic membrane protein D (PmpD). We show Ab specific to PmpD neutralizing in vitro . also present evidence serovariable-neutralizing targets, such as major outer protein, block neutralization. This finding suggests decoy-like immune evasion strategy may be active vivo whereby immunodominant type-specific surface antigens ability species-common Ab. Collectively, these results previously uncharacterized pan-neutralizing target. Moreover, protocol using recombinant elicit absence might efficacious surpass level protection achieved through natural immunity.