Mutational analysis of the Chlamydia muridarum plasticity zone

Krithika Rajaram, Amanda M. Giebel, Evelyn Toh, Shuai Hu, Jasmine H. Newman, Sandra G. Morrison, Laszlo Kari, Richard P. Morrison, David E. Nelson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Pathogenically diverse Chlamydia spp. can have surprisingly similar genomes. Chlamydia trachomatis isolates that cause trachoma, sexually transmitted genital tract infections (chlamydia), and invasive lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) and the murine strain Chlamydia muridarum share 99% of their gene content. A region of high genomic diversity between Chlamydia spp. termed the plasticity zone (PZ) may encode niche-specific virulence determinants that dictate pathogenic diversity. We hypothesized that PZ genes might mediate the greater virulence and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) resistance of C. muridarum compared to C. trachomatis in the murine genital tract. To test this hypothesis, we isolated and characterized a series of C. muridarum PZ nonsense mutants. Strains with nonsense mutations in chlamydial cytotoxins, guaBA-add, and a phospholipase D homolog developed normally in cell culture. Two of the cytotoxin mutants were less cytotoxic than the wild type, suggesting that the cytotoxins may be functional. However, none of the PZ nonsense mutants exhibited increased IFN-γ sensitivity in cell culture or were profoundly attenuated in a murine genital tract infection model. Our results suggest that C. muridarum PZ genes are transcribed- and some may produce functional proteins-but are dispensable for infection of the murine genital tract.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2870-2881
Number of pages12
JournalInfection and immunity
Volume83
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

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