scholarly journals Lactobacillus crispatus BC1 Biosurfactant Counteracts the Infectivity of Chlamydia trachomatis Elementary Bodies

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 975
Author(s):  
Claudio Foschi ◽  
Carola Parolin ◽  
Barbara Giordani ◽  
Sara Morselli ◽  
Barbara Luppi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Myristic Acid ◽  
Contact Time ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Lactobacillus Crispatus ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Lactobacilli-derived biosurfactants (BS) have shown promising effects as antimicrobial molecules. Since Lactobacillus crispatus plays a crucial role in maintaining vaginal eubiosis, BS from this species could represent novel therapeutic agents to counteract sexually transmitted pathogens, such as Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). The aim of the present study was to assess the inhibitory effects of a BS produced by the vaginal strain L. crispatus BC1 on the infectivity of CT elementary bodies (EBs). For concentrations ranging between 1 and 0.5 mg/mL at 60-min contact time, L. crispatus BC1 BS displayed a highly significant anti-CT activity, with about 50% reduction of EB infectivity towards HeLa cells. To identify the components responsible for chlamydial inhibition, a panel of selected fatty acids, including those present in BS lipopeptidic structure, was tested against CT EBs. Pentadecanoic acid, myristic acid, β-hydroxy-myristic acid, and β-hydroxy-palmitic acid were able to significantly reduce EBs infectivity up to 5–0.5 µg/mL, concentrations that resulted to be non-toxic for HeLa cells. These data can contribute to the understanding of the biological role of lactobacilli in the vaginal niche, as well as to promote the application of their produced BS as an innovative and antibiotic-sparing anti-chlamydial strategy.

scholarly journals Chlamydia trachomatis and urogenital mycoplasms in nonconococcal urethirits in men

2010 ◽  
Vol 63 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 47-50
Author(s):  
Sonja Vesic ◽  
Jelica Vukicevic ◽  
Eleonora Gvozdenovic ◽  
Dusan Skiljevic ◽  
Slobodanka Janosevic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Ureaplasma Urealyticum ◽  
Mycoplasma Hominis ◽  
Sexually Active ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Nongonococcal Urethritis ◽  
Etiological Agents ◽  
The One

Introduction. Nongonococcal urethritis is the most common sexually transmitted infection in men, with vast majority of the etiological agents such as Chlamydia trachomatis, followed by urogenital mycoplasmas. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in nongonococcal urethritis in men, and to examine infections associated with these agents. Material and methods. 299 sexually active, heterosexual men with nongonococcal urethritis were included into the study. Urethral samples were taken with a dacron swab placed into the urethra up to 2-3 cm. The Direct immunojluorescence tehnique was performed for identification of Chlamydia trachomatis. Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis were detected with Mycoplasma 1ST assay. Results. Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in 22.75%, Uraeplasma urealyticum in 21.08% and Mycoplasma hominis in 8.02% cases. We found no significant differences in prevalence between Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticym (p>0.05). Monoinjections were found in 51.85% with significantly higher rate (p<0.01) than associated infections (11.70%). Among associated infections, coinfection of Chlamydia trahomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum was predominant. Association of Chlamydia trachomatis with urogenital mycoplasmas was significantly higher (p<0.05) than the one between Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. In 36.45% patients no patogenic microorganisms were detected. Conclusion. These results confirmed the etiological role of Chlamydia trachomatis and urogenital mycoplasmas in nongonococcal urethritis with prevalence of 51.85% in monoinfections and 11.70% in associated infections. In 36.45% of cases the etiology of urethritis was not elucidated. These results suggest that more sensitive diagnostic tool should be applied when searching for the detailed etiology of nongonococcal urethritis.

scholarly journals Inhibitory effects of 405 nm irradiation on Chlamydia trachomatis growth and characterization of the ensuing inflammatory response in HeLa cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra J Wasson ◽  
Jessica L Zourelias ◽  
Nathan A Aardsma ◽  
Janis T Eells ◽  
Mike T Ganger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Inhibitory Effects

scholarly journals Chlamydia trachomatis infection: a challenge for the urologist

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommaso Cai ◽  
Sandra Mazzoli ◽  
Nicola Mondaini ◽  
Gianni Malossini ◽  
Riccardo Bartoletti
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Asymptomatic Infections

<p>The role of <em>Chlamydia trachomatis</em> (Ct) in everyday clinical practice is now on the increase because Ct infections are the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infections worldwide. Ct can cause urethritis, cervicitis, pharyngitis, or epididymitis, although asymptomatic infections are quite common. Ct infection remains asymptomatic in approximately 50% of infected men and 70% of infected women, with risk for reproductive tract sequelae both in women and men. A proper early diagnosis and treatment is essential in order to prevent persistent consequences. An accurate comprehension of the pathology, diagnosis and treatment of this entity is essential for the urologist. We review the literature about the new findings in diagnosis and treatment of Ct infection in sexually active young men.</p>

scholarly journals Antiapoptotic activity of Chlamydia trachomatis Pgp3 protein involves activation of the ERK1/2 pathway mediated by upregulation of DJ-1 protein

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangzhen Luo ◽  
Mingyi Shu ◽  
Silu Gong ◽  
Yating Wen ◽  
Bei He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Signal Pathway ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Apoptosis Resistance ◽  
Host Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Pathway Activation ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Antiapoptotic Activity

ABSTRACT Chlamydia trachomatis has evolved strategies to prevent host cell apoptosis to evade the host immune defense. However, the precise mechanisms of antiapoptotic activity of C. trachomatis still need to be clarified. Pgp3, one of eight plasmid proteins of C. trachomatis, has been identified to be closely associated with chlamydial virulence. In this study, we attempted to explore the effects and the mechanisms of Pgp3 protein on apoptosis in HeLa cells; the results showed that Pgp3 increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio and prevented caspase-3 activation to suppress apoptosis induced by TNF-α and cycloheximide (CHX) through ERK1/2 pathway activation. Downregulation of DJ-1 with siRNA-DJ-1(si-DJ-1) reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and elevated apoptotic rate significantly in Pgp3-HeLa cells. However, inhibition of ERK1/2 signal pathway with ERK inhibitor PD98059 had little effect on DJ-1 expression. These findings confirm that plasmid protein Pgp3 contributes to apoptosis resistance through ERK1/2 signal pathway mediated by upregulation of DJ-1 expression. Therefore, the present study provided novel insights into the role of Pgp3 in apoptosis and suggested that manipulation of the host apoptosis response could be a new approach for the prevention and treatment of C. trachomatis infection.

Specific Targets in Sarcoma and Developmental Therapeutics

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 677-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Thomas ◽  
Andrew J. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Personalized Medicine ◽  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Drug Development ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽  
Developmental Therapeutics ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Connective tissue tumors comprise a rich array of subtypes, many of which possess strong pathognomonic phenotypes and genotypes of therapeutic significance. This article describes recent applications of targeted and nontargeted therapeutic agents in connective tissue tumors that illustrate important themes in drug development. Targeted therapy has exploited the paradigms of oncogene and lineage addiction. In other cases, potential targets are more difficult to classify, such as the role of the insulin-like growth factor 1 pathway in Ewing's sarcoma. Understanding why these pathways seem critical in some cancers, and in some individuals but not others, is important in identifying novel therapeutic opportunities in an age of personalized medicine.

scholarly journals Chlamydia trachomatis YtgA is an iron-binding periplasmic protein induced by iron restriction

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (9) ◽  
pp. 2884-2894 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Miller ◽  
M. S. Sal ◽  
M. Schell ◽  
J. D. Whittimore ◽  
J. E. Raulston
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Iron Acquisition ◽  
Periplasmic Protein ◽  
Iron Starvation ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Iron Restriction ◽  
Abc Transport ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Biochemical Assays

Chlamydia trachomatis is a Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterium that is the causative agent of common sexually transmitted diseases and the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. It has been observed that YtgA (CT067) is very immunogenic in patients with chlamydial genital infections. Homology analyses suggested that YtgA is a soluble periplasmic protein and a component of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport system for metals such as iron. Since little is known about iron transport in C. trachomatis, biochemical assays were used to determine the potential role of YtgA in iron acquisition. 59Fe binding and competition studies revealed that YtgA preferentially binds iron over nickel, zinc or manganese. Western blot and densitometry techniques showed that YtgA concentrations specifically increased 3–5-fold in C. trachomatis, when cultured under iron-starvation conditions rather than under general stress conditions, such as exposure to penicillin. Finally, immuno-transmission electron microscopy provided evidence that YtgA is more concentrated in C. trachomatis during iron restriction, supporting a possible role for YtgA as a component of an ABC transporter.

Targeted and Immunotherapeutic Approaches in Brain Metastases

2015 ◽  
pp. 67-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manmeet S. Ahluwalia ◽  
Frank Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Patient Population ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Whole Brain Radiation ◽  
Barrier Penetration ◽  
Heavily Pretreated ◽  
Brain Radiation ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Brain metastases are a common and devastating complication of cancer. The approach to the management of brain metastases is often multidisciplinary and includes surgery, whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), and systemic therapeutic agents. Until recently, systemic therapy has had a limited role in the management of brain metastases because of a lack of activity, challenges of blood-brain barrier penetration, the heterogeneous patient population, and a heavily pretreated patient population. Advances in the understanding of the biology of brain metastases and molecularly defined disease subsets have facilitated an emerging role of novel therapeutic agents, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy, in the management of brain metastases.

scholarly journals Chlamydia trachomatis Induces Remodeling of the Actin Cytoskeleton during Attachment and Entry into HeLa Cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 3793-3803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reynaldo A. Carabeo ◽  
Scott S. Grieshaber ◽  
Elizabeth Fischer ◽  
Ted Hackstadt
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Hela Cells ◽  
Actin Polymerization ◽  
Cytochalasin D ◽  
Actin Remodeling ◽  
Ultrastructural Studies ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT To elucidate the host cell machinery utilized by Chlamydia trachomatis to invade epithelial cells, we examined the role of the actin cytoskeleton in the internalization of chlamydial elementary bodies (EBs). Treatment of HeLa cells with cytochalasin D markedly inhibited the internalization of C. trachomatis serovar L2 and D EBs. Association of EBs with HeLa cells induced localized actin polymerization at the site of attachment, as visualized by either phalloidin staining of fixed cells or the active recruitment of GFP-actin in viable infected cells. The recruitment of actin to the specific site of attachment was accompanied by dramatic changes in the morphology of cell surface microvilli. Ultrastructural studies revealed a transient microvillar hypertrophy that was dependent upon C. trachomatis attachment, mediated by structural components on the EBs, and cytochalasin D sensitive. In addition, a mutant CHO cell line that does not support entry of C. trachomatis serovar L2 did not display such microvillar hypertrophy following exposure to L2 EBs, which is in contrast to infection with serovar D, to which it is susceptible. We propose that C. trachomatis entry is facilitated by an active actin remodeling process that is induced by the attachment of this pathogen, resulting in distinct microvillar reorganization throughout the cell surface and the formation of a pedestal-like structure at the immediate site of attachment and entry.

scholarly journals Chlamydial Plasmid-Encoded Virulence Factor Pgp3 Neutralizes the Antichlamydial Activity of Human Cathelicidin LL-37

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (12) ◽  
pp. 4701-4709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuping Hou ◽  
Xiaohua Dong ◽  
Zhangsheng Yang ◽  
Zhongyu Li ◽  
Quanzhong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genital Tract ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Middle Region ◽  
Tubal Infertility ◽  
Significant Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ascending Infection ◽  
Lower Genital Tract ◽  
Novel Therapeutic

Chlamydia trachomatisinfection in the lower genital tract can ascend to and cause pathologies in the upper genital tract, potentially leading to severe complications, such as tubal infertility. However, chlamydial organisms depleted of plasmid or deficient in the plasmid-encoded Pgp3 are attenuated in ascending infection and no longer are able to induce the upper genital tract pathologies, indicating a significant role of Pgp3 in chlamydial pathogenesis. We now report thatC. trachomatisPgp3 can neutralize the antichlamydial activity of human cathelicidin LL-37, a host antimicrobial peptide secreted by both genital tract epithelial cells and infiltrating neutrophils. Pgp3 bound to and formed stable complexes with LL-37. We further showed that the middle region of Pgp3 (Pgp3m) was responsible for both the binding to and neutralization of LL-37, suggesting that Pgp3m can be targeted for attenuating chlamydial pathogenicity or developed for blocking LL-37-involved non-genital-tract pathologies, such as rosacea and psoriasis. Thus, the current study has provided significant information for both understanding the mechanisms of chlamydial pathogenesis and developing novel therapeutic agents.

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