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Forward Genetic Approaches in Chlamydia trachomatis
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Gastrointestinal Coinfection Promotes Chlamydial Pathogenicity in the Genital Tract
Qi Tian1,2, Zengzi Zhou1,2, Luying Wang1,2
1The 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
Infection and Immunity
|January 29, 2020
Summary
Gastrointestinal Chlamydia infection may worsen genital tract fibrotic pathology in women. This study shows gut Chlamydia plays a significant role in promoting genital disease, possibly through indirect mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Immunology
Background:
- Sexually transmitted Chlamydia causes genital tract fibrotic pathology.
- Chlamydia is frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract, but its role there is unclear.
- A mouse model shows Chlamydia spreads from the genital to the gastrointestinal tract, causing oviduct blockage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of gastrointestinal Chlamydia in promoting genital tract pathology.
- To test a two-hit model where gut Chlamydia acts as a second hit for genital pathology.
Main Methods:
- Compared chlamydial mutants' ability to induce hydrosalpinx with their gastrointestinal colonization.
- Used intragastric coinoculation of wild-type and attenuated Chlamydia mutants in mice.
- Assessed direct spread of gastrointestinal Chlamydia to the genital tract lumen.
Main Results:
- Chlamydial hydrosalpinx induction correlated better with gastrointestinal colonization than genital tract colonization.
- Wild-type Chlamydia administered intragastrically rescued an attenuated mutant's ability to induce hydrosalpinx.
- Gastrointestinal Chlamydia did not directly spread to the genital tract lumen.
Conclusions:
- Gastrointestinal Chlamydia plays a significant role in promoting genital tract pathology.
- The mechanism appears to be indirect, suggesting systemic effects.
- This finding opens new avenues for understanding Chlamydia pathogenesis.
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