Open AccessPlasmid deficiency in urogenital isolates of C hlamydia trachomatis reduces infectivity and virulence in a mouse model
Author(s) -
Sigar Ira M.,
Schripsema Justin H.,
Wang Yibing,
Clarke Ian N.,
Cutcliffe Lesley T.,
SethSmith Helena M.B.,
Thomson Nicholas R.,
Bjartling Carina,
Unemo Magnus,
Persson Kenneth,
Ramsey Kyle H.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pathogens and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.983
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2049-632X
DOI - 10.1111/2049-632x.12086
Subject(s) - infectivity , virulence , plasmid , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chlamydia trachomatis , virology , serotype , virus , gene , genetics
We hypothesized that the plasmid of urogenital isolates of C hlamydia trachomatis would modulate infectivity and virulence in a mouse model. To test this hypothesis, we infected female mice in the respiratory or urogenital tract with graded doses of a human urogenital isolate of C . trachomatis , serovar F , possessing the cognate plasmid. For comparison, we inoculated mice with a plasmid‐free serovar F isolate. Following urogenital inoculation, the plasmid‐free isolate displayed significantly reduced infectivity compared with the wild‐type strain with the latter yielding a 17‐fold lower infectious dose to yield 50% infection. When inoculated via the respiratory tract, the plasmid‐free isolate exhibited reduced infectivity and virulence (as measured by weight change) when compared to the wild‐type isolate. Further, differences in infectivity, but not in virulence were observed in a C . trachomatis , serovar E isolate with a deletion within the plasmid coding sequence 1 when compared to a serovar E isolate with no mutations in the plasmid. We conclude that plasmid loss reduces virulence and infectivity in this mouse model. These findings further support a role for the chlamydial plasmid in infectivity and virulence in vivo .