Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Forward Genetic Approaches in Chlamydia trachomatis
09:03

Forward Genetic Approaches in Chlamydia trachomatis

Published on: October 23, 2013

13.3K

Global Mapping of the Inc-Human Interactome Reveals that Retromer Restricts Chlamydia Infection

Kathleen M Mirrashidi1, Cherilyn A Elwell1, Erik Verschueren2

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe
|June 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Chlamydia trachomatis uses inclusion membrane proteins (Incs) to manipulate host cells. Researchers found that the retromer complex restricts Chlamydia infection, offering new therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology and Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Proteomics

Background:

  • Chlamydia trachomatis is a major cause of bacterial infections, lacking a vaccine.
  • Inclusion membrane proteins (Incs) secreted by Chlamydia are crucial for host cell interaction.
  • Understanding Inc functions is key to developing new treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify host-bacterium interactions mediated by Chlamydia trachomatis inclusion membrane proteins (Incs).
  • To investigate the role of specific Incs in modulating host cell processes.
  • To uncover novel host factors that restrict Chlamydia infection.

Main Methods:

  • Affinity purification-mass spectrometry (AP-MS) was used to identify Inc-human protein interactions.
  • Functional assays were performed to assess the impact of IncE on host cell machinery.
  • Depletion of host factors was employed to determine their role in Chlamydia infection.

Main Results:

  • 38 out of 58 putative Incs were found to interact with human proteins involved in host cell processes.
  • IncE specifically binds to sorting nexins (SNXs) 5/6, components of the retromer complex.
  • Retromer relocalization to the inclusion membrane enhances its tubulation, and retromer depletion increases Chlamydia progeny production.

Conclusions:

  • Proteomics is a valuable tool for studying host-pathogen interactions in difficult-to-culture microbes like Chlamydia.
  • The retromer complex acts as a host restriction factor against Chlamydia infection.
  • Targeting the retromer pathway presents a potential strategy for combating Chlamydia infections.

More Related Videos

Markerless Gene Deletion by Floxed Cassette Allelic Exchange Mutagenesis in Chlamydia trachomatis10:35

Markerless Gene Deletion by Floxed Cassette Allelic Exchange Mutagenesis in Chlamydia trachomatis

Published on: January 30, 2020

7.4K
A Human Fallopian Tube Model for Investigation of C. trachomatis Infections09:11

A Human Fallopian Tube Model for Investigation of C. trachomatis Infections

Published on: August 11, 2012

13.4K

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae01:29

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic...
712
Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
1.7K
LTR Retrotransposons03:08

LTR Retrotransposons

LTR retrotransposons are class I transposable elements with long terminal repeats flanking an internal coding region. These elements are less abundant in mammals compared to other class I transposable elements. About 8 percent of human genomic DNA comprises LTR retrotransposons. Some of the common examples of LTR retrotransposons are Ty elements in yeast and Copia elements in Drosophila.
The internal coding region of LTR retrotransposons and their mechanism of transposition closely resembles a...
20.5K
Non-LTR Retrotransposons03:18

Non-LTR Retrotransposons

As the name suggests, non-LTR retrotransposons lack the long terminal repeats characteristic of the LTR retrotransposons. Additionally, both LTR and non-LTR retrotransposons use distinct mechanisms of mobilization. Non-LTR retrotransposons are further divided into two classes - Long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs) and short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), both of which occur abundantly in most mammals, including humans. Some of the active non-LTR retrotransposons in humans are L1...
14.1K
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
50.7K
Retroviruses02:33

Retroviruses

Retroviruses and retrotransposons both insert copies of their genetic elements into the genome of the host cell. Thus, the viral genes are passed on when the host genome is replicated or translated. A typical retroviral DNA sequence contains 3-4 genes that encode the different proteins required for its structural assembly and function as a molecular parasite. This DNA is transcribed into a single mRNA, which is very similar in structure to conventional mRNAs, i.e., it is capped at the 5’...
15.9K