TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular detection and seroepidemiology of the Chlamydia pneumoniae bacteriophage (φCpn1)
AU - Karunakaran, Karuna P.
AU - Blanchard, James F.
AU - Raudonikiene, Ausra
AU - Shen, Caixia
AU - Murdin, Andrew D.
AU - Brunham, Robert C.
PY - 2002/11/1
Y1 - 2002/11/1
N2 - Recent whole-genome analysis has demonstrated limited genetic variation in Chlamydia pneumoniae, with one strain (AR39) containing a 4,524 nucleotide single-stranded DNA bacteriophage, ΦCpn1. Using PCR, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and Western blotting, we confirmed the presence and functional expression of ΦCpn1 in C. pneumoniae strain AR39 and its absence in strain CWL029. Six additional epidemiologically distinct clinical isolates of C. pneumoniae also did not contain ΦCpn1. We generated recombinant viral protein 1 (Vp1) from ΦCpn1 in Escherichia coli and showed that Vp1 antigen is highly immunogenic in mice and that murine antisera readily recognize native Vp1 from C. pneumoniae strain AR39 elementary bodies (EB). We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure antibodies to recombinant Vp1 in human sera collected from 32 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and 40 controls. Among the 72 subjects, 61 had C. pneumoniae EB antibodies shown by ELISA. Antibodies to Vp1 were found in 39 of the 61 (64%) seropositive individuals and were significantly correlated with AAA (adjusted odds ratio, 13.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 175). Our studies indicate that phage-containing strains of C. pneumoniae are uncommonly found by isolation but may commonly infect individuals with vascular disease.
AB - Recent whole-genome analysis has demonstrated limited genetic variation in Chlamydia pneumoniae, with one strain (AR39) containing a 4,524 nucleotide single-stranded DNA bacteriophage, ΦCpn1. Using PCR, reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and Western blotting, we confirmed the presence and functional expression of ΦCpn1 in C. pneumoniae strain AR39 and its absence in strain CWL029. Six additional epidemiologically distinct clinical isolates of C. pneumoniae also did not contain ΦCpn1. We generated recombinant viral protein 1 (Vp1) from ΦCpn1 in Escherichia coli and showed that Vp1 antigen is highly immunogenic in mice and that murine antisera readily recognize native Vp1 from C. pneumoniae strain AR39 elementary bodies (EB). We developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure antibodies to recombinant Vp1 in human sera collected from 32 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and 40 controls. Among the 72 subjects, 61 had C. pneumoniae EB antibodies shown by ELISA. Antibodies to Vp1 were found in 39 of the 61 (64%) seropositive individuals and were significantly correlated with AAA (adjusted odds ratio, 13.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 175). Our studies indicate that phage-containing strains of C. pneumoniae are uncommonly found by isolation but may commonly infect individuals with vascular disease.
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U2 - 10.1128/JCM.40.11.4010-4014.2002
DO - 10.1128/JCM.40.11.4010-4014.2002
M3 - Article
C2 - 12409367
AN - SCOPUS:0036840715
SN - 0095-1137
VL - 40
SP - 4010
EP - 4014
JO - Journal of Clinical Microbiology
JF - Journal of Clinical Microbiology
IS - 11
ER -