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Neutralization of Chlamydia psittaci with monoclonal antibodies

S Ando1, I Takashima, N Hashimoto

  • 1Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Japan.

Insights

Six of ten monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) neutralized Chlamydia psittaci avian strain P-1041 in vitro. Most MAbs required complement, but one strain-specific MAb against a 90 kDa protein neutralized without it.

Area of Science:

  • * Immunology
  • * Microbiology
  • * Veterinary Medicine

Background:

  • * Chlamydia psittaci is an avian pathogen causing significant disease in poultry and psittacine birds.
  • * Understanding the mechanisms of antibody-mediated neutralization is crucial for developing effective vaccines and treatments.
  • * Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) offer a targeted approach to investigate pathogen-specific immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To evaluate the in vitro neutralizing activity of MAbs against the avian Chlamydia psittaci strain P-1041.
  • * To identify the specific targets (antigens) of neutralizing MAbs on the C. psittaci outer membrane.
  • * To characterize the role of complement in MAb-mediated neutralization.

Main Methods:

  • * In vitro neutralization assays using ten MAbs against C. psittaci avian strain P-1041.
  • * Identification of MAb targets including major outer membrane protein (MOMP), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and other proteins (90 kDa, 90/50 kDa).
  • * Competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to map MAb epitopes on MOMP.

Main Results:

  • * Six out of ten MAbs demonstrated neutralizing capability against C. psittaci P-1041.
  • * Neutralizing MAbs targeted MOMP (3 MAbs), LPS (1 MAb), and other proteins (2 MAbs).
  • * Most neutralizing MAbs required complement, but a strain-specific MAb (2B5) against a 90 kDa protein neutralized infectivity without complement at high concentrations.
  • * Competitive inhibition ELISA revealed that the three anti-MOMP MAbs bind to distinct, closely located epitopes on the outer membrane.

Conclusions:

  • * Monoclonal antibodies targeting various C. psittaci antigens, particularly MOMP, can effectively neutralize the avian strain P-1041 in vitro.
  • * Complement plays a significant role in MAb-mediated neutralization, although strain-specific antibodies may bypass this requirement.
  • * The identification of distinct neutralizing epitopes on MOMP provides valuable insights for subunit vaccine development against Chlamydia psittaci.

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