Journal article
Chlamydia-infected macrophages are resistant to azithromycin treatment and are associated with chronic oviduct inflammation and hydrosalpinx development
Immunology and Cell Biology, Vol.97(10), pp.865-876
2019
Abstract
Chlamydia infection remains the leading sexually-transmitted bacterial infection worldwide, causing damaging sequelae such as tubal scarring, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. As infection is often asymptomatic, prevention via vaccination is the optimal strategy for disease control. Vaccination strategies aimed at preventing bacterial infection have shown some promise, although these strategies often fail to prevent damaging inflammatory pathology when Chlamydia is encountered. Using a murine model of Chlamydia muridarum genital infection, we employed two established independent models to compare immune responses underpinning pathologic development of genital Chlamydia infection. Model one uses antibiotic treatment during infection, with only early treatment preventing pathology. Model two uses a plasmid-cured variant strain of C. muridarum that does not cause pathologic outcomes like the plasmid-containing wild-type counterpart. Using these infection models, contrasted by the development of pathology, we identified an unexpected role for macrophages. We observed that mice showing signs of pathology had greater numbers of activated macrophages present in the oviducts. This may have been due to early differences in macrophage activation and proinflammatory signaling leading to persistent or enhanced infection. These results provide valuable insight into the cellular mechanisms driving pathology in Chlamydia infection and contribute to the design and development of more effective vaccine strategies for protection against the deleterious sequelae of Chlamydia infection of the female reproductive tract.
Details
- Title
- Chlamydia-infected macrophages are resistant to azithromycin treatment and are associated with chronic oviduct inflammation and hydrosalpinx development
- Authors
- Marina C G Harvie (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyAlison J Carey (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyCharles W Armitage (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyConnor P O'Meara (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyJesse Peet (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyZachary N Phillips (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyPeter Timms (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastKenneth W Beagley (Corresponding Author) - Queensland University of Technology
- Publication details
- Immunology and Cell Biology, Vol.97(10), pp.865-876
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Date published
- 2019
- DOI
- 10.1111/imcb.12285
- ISSN
- 0818-9641
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99450895302621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
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Source: InCites