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Updated: Aug 26, 2025
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Forward Genetic Approaches in Chlamydia trachomatis
Published on: October 23, 2013
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Genomic Analysis of MSM Rectal Chlamydia trachomatis Isolates Identifies Predicted Tissue-Tropic Lineages Generated
Robert J Suchland1, Steven J Carrell2, Stephen A Ramsey2
1Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washingtongrid.34477.33, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Infection and Immunity
|October 10, 2022
Summary
This study identifies specific genetic markers in Chlamydia trachomatis, particularly in the PmpE protein, associated with rectal infections in men who have sex with men (MSM). These findings may explain differences in tissue tropism between rectal and cervical infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Chlamydia trachomatis causes significant human diseases, with rectal infections being understudied.
- Male rectal infections are often caused by specific C. trachomatis serovars.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genetic factors influencing Chlamydia trachomatis tissue tropism in rectal infections among men who have sex with men (MSM).
- To investigate potential differences in C. trachomatis strains causing rectal versus cervical infections.
Main Methods:
- Genome-wide association study (GWAS) on C. trachomatis strains from male rectal and female cervical infections.
- Analysis of polymorphic membrane protein E (PmpE) and PmpH using amino acid alignments and AlphaFold2 structure prediction.
Main Results:
- Serovars G and J were associated with male rectal infections.
- PmpE showed the strongest correlation with tissue tropism, with specific variable regions (VRs) linked to host or tissue.
- VRs in PmpE and PmpH were often located in predicted surface-exposed loops.
Conclusions:
- Genomic loci, especially in PmpE, may predict tropism for MSM rectal C. trachomatis infections.
- Surface-exposed regions of Pmp proteins might play a role in rectal versus cervical tropism differences.
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