Transcriptional analysis of in vitro expression patterns of chlamydophila abortus polymorphic outer membrane proteins during the chlamydial developmental cycle.

Wheelhouse, Nicholas; Aitchison, Kevin; Spalding, Lucy; Livingstone, Morag; Longbottom, David

Abstract

Chlamydophila abortus is the aetiological agent of ovine enzootic abortion. Sequencing, annotation and comparative analysis of the genome of C. abortus strain S26/3 has revealed variation in the
loci encoding the polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps). These Pmps resemble autotransporter proteins of the type V secretion system, suggesting an important role in chlamydial pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to characterise the transcriptional expression patterns of this family during the developmental cycle of C. abortus. McCoy cells were infected with C. abortus and analysed for pmp mRNA expression over a 72 h period. Few pmp transcripts were detected in the early stages of the developmental cycle. Peak
expression occurred at 48 h post-infection (p.i.) other than for pmp5E, where it was observed at 24 h p.i. Overall, expression of pmps 5E, 18D and 10G were found to be 40 to 100-fold higher than the lowest expressing pmps (6H, 13G and 15G) at 24 h p.i., while pmps 18D and 17G were 14 to 16-fold higher than the lowest (11G, 14G and 15G) at 48 h. Levels of expression for all the other pmp genes were below one copy per genome at any time point. The expression of all the pmps reduced to near base-line levels by 60 h
p.i. These results demonstrate that pmp expression in C. abortus is mid to late cycle, consistent with conversion of the reticulate body to the elementary body. The low level of pmp transcription may be
indicative of heterogeneity in expression, suggesting a possible role for some of the Pmps in antigenic variation and chlamydial pathogenesis.

Citation

Wheelhouse, N., Aitchison, K., Spalding, L., Livingstone, M., & Longbottom, D. (2009). Transcriptional analysis of in vitro expression patterns of chlamydophila abortus polymorphic outer membrane proteins during the chlamydial developmental cycle. Veterinary Research, 40(5), 47. https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres/2009030

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 19, 2009
• Online Publication Date: May 21, 2009
• Publication Date: 2009-09
• Deposit Date: Jul 27, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 4, 2016
• Journal: Veterinary Research
• Print ISSN: 0928-4249
• Electronic ISSN: 1297-9716
• Publisher: BMC
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 47
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres/2009030
• Keywords: Chlamydophila abortus, pmp, gene expression, antigenic variation,
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/318281
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/vetres/2009030