Journal article
Antibiotic treatment of Chlamydia-induced cystitis in the koala is linked to expression of key inflammatory genes in reactive oxygen pathways
PLoS One, Vol.14(8), e0221109
2019
Abstract
Chlamydial-induced cystitis in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is currently treated by antibiotics. However, while reducing the chlamydial load, this treatment can also lead to gastrointestinal complications and death. Development of alternative treatments, such as a therapeutic chlamydial vaccine, are hindered by the lack of detailed understanding of the innate immune response to chlamydial clearance and disease regression during antibiotic treatment. Through clinical, microbiological and transcriptomic approaches, disease regression, bacterial clearance and innate immune responses were mapped in koalas with signs of chlamydial-induced cystitis while receiving anti-chlamydial antibiotics. Significant reduction in the signs of cystitis were observed during and post antibiotic treatment. This was observed as a thinning of the bladder wall and complete reversal of urinary incontinence. Transcriptomic analysis before treatment, at the end of treatment and prior to release identified significant down-regulation of specific genes involved in 21 biological pathways. Of these, the chemokine receptor signalling and NOD-like receptor signalling pathways where identified as important markers of inflammation. Specific genes within these pathways (NCF1 and NOX2) were significantly down-regulated, suggesting a decrease in reactive oxygen species production. Through the monitoring of specific clinical and transcriptomic markers, these findings allow detailed profiling of the clinical response to therapeutic vaccination in koalas with current signs of disease. This also adds to our understanding of innate immune responses to chlamydial infections and indicates that chlamydial-induced cystitis in the koala is linked to the regulation of reactive oxygen pathways.
Details
- Title
- Antibiotic treatment of Chlamydia-induced cystitis in the koala is linked to expression of key inflammatory genes in reactive oxygen pathways
- Authors
- Samuel Phillips (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastBonnie L Quigley (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastAmmar Aziz (Author) - Charles Darwin UniversityWendy Bergen (Author) - Australia Zoo Wildlife HospitalRosemary Booth (Author) - Australia Zoo Wildlife HospitalMichael Pyne (Author) - Currumbin Wildlife HospitalPeter Timms (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- PLoS One, Vol.14(8), e0221109
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1371/journal.pone.0221109
- ISSN
- 1932-6203
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2019 Phillips et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; Thompson Institute; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450884402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
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