TY - JOUR
T1 - Expression patterns of five polymorphic membrane proteins during the Chlamydia abortus developmental cycle
AU - Wheelhouse, Nick M.
AU - Sait, Michelle
AU - Wilson, Kim
AU - Aitchison, Kevin
AU - McLean, Kevin
AU - Smith, David George Emslie
AU - Longbottom, David
N1 - Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/12/7
Y1 - 2012/12/7
N2 - It has been suggested that polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps) belonging to the Type V autotransporter protein family play an important role in the pathogenesis of Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus; formerly Chlamydophila abortus) infection. In a previous study we demonstrated the expression of all the pmps at the transcriptional level. The purpose of this study was to measure the number of Pmp positive inclusions throughout the C. abortus developmental cycle to investigate heterogeneity in expression patterns. McCoy cells were infected with C. abortus and analysed for Pmp expression over a 72 h period by fluorescent immunocytochemistry. Pmp18D could be detected at all analysed time points, and could only be accurately quantified from 36 hpi while Pmp10G positive inclusions could be visualised from 36hpi. Expression of Pmps 13G, 16G and 17G could only be visualised later in the cycle and within less than half of visualised inclusions. These results indicate that while expression of specific Pmps is constitutive (Pmp18D), the pattern of expression of other Pmps is more variable. This suggests that different members of the Pmp family may play different roles within the developmental cycle of the organism, with some (Pmps10G and 18D) having roles throughout the cycle, while the heterogeneity of expression of others may aid in antigenic variation.
AB - It has been suggested that polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps) belonging to the Type V autotransporter protein family play an important role in the pathogenesis of Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus; formerly Chlamydophila abortus) infection. In a previous study we demonstrated the expression of all the pmps at the transcriptional level. The purpose of this study was to measure the number of Pmp positive inclusions throughout the C. abortus developmental cycle to investigate heterogeneity in expression patterns. McCoy cells were infected with C. abortus and analysed for Pmp expression over a 72 h period by fluorescent immunocytochemistry. Pmp18D could be detected at all analysed time points, and could only be accurately quantified from 36 hpi while Pmp10G positive inclusions could be visualised from 36hpi. Expression of Pmps 13G, 16G and 17G could only be visualised later in the cycle and within less than half of visualised inclusions. These results indicate that while expression of specific Pmps is constitutive (Pmp18D), the pattern of expression of other Pmps is more variable. This suggests that different members of the Pmp family may play different roles within the developmental cycle of the organism, with some (Pmps10G and 18D) having roles throughout the cycle, while the heterogeneity of expression of others may aid in antigenic variation.
KW - Animals
KW - Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
KW - Cell Line
KW - Chlamydia
KW - Chlamydia Infections
KW - Gene Expression Profiling
KW - Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
KW - Mice
U2 - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.06.017
DO - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.06.017
M3 - Article
C2 - 22776512
SN - 0378-1135
VL - 160
SP - 525
EP - 529
JO - Veterinary Microbiology
JF - Veterinary Microbiology
IS - 3-4
ER -