Open AccessAntibody‐neutralizing activity against all urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis serovars in Chlamydia suis ‐infected pigs
Author(s) -
Donati Manuela,
Di Francesco Antonietta,
Delucca Federica,
Di Paolo Maria,
Battilani Mara,
Balboni Andrea,
Baldelli Raffaella,
Cevenini Roberto
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2010.00748.x
Subject(s) - chlamydia trachomatis , serotype , biology , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , chlamydiaceae , antibody , heterologous , chlamydiales , neutralizing antibody , virus , immunology , gene , biochemistry
It is known that neutralizing species‐specific or serovar‐specific antibodies are produced in response to chlamydial infection in humans and in some animal species. In a previous study, a strong in vitro neutralizing activity to Chlamydia suis in 80% of sera from C. suis ‐infected pigs had been observed. In view of the close relationship between C. suis and Chlamydia trachomatis , in the present study, the neutralizing activity against D‐K C. trachomatis and C. suis purified elementary bodies (EBs) in sera collected from C. trachomatis ‐infected patients and C. suis ‐infected pigs was evaluated. A neutralizing activity of 50–70% was observed in the human sera against the homologous serovar and one to five heterologous C. trachomatis serovars. These sera were also able to neutralize C. suis EBs. The pig sera showed a strong neutralizing activity (70–100%) against C. suis EBs and all eight urogenital C. trachomatis serovars. These results suggested the presence of common immunogenic antigens in C. trachomatis and C. suis . Immunoblot analysis, performed to elucidate the target of this neutralizing activity, showed a clear reactivity in human and pig sera against two proteins of 150 and 40 kDa MW, when tested either with C. trachomatis or with C. suis EBs.