Localization and Characterization of Two Putative TMH Family Proteins in Chlamydia psittaci

Publication date: Available online 25 November 2015 Source:Microbiological Research Author(s): Haiying Wu, Chuan Wang, Chuanhao Jiang, Yafeng Xie, Liangzhuan Liu, Ying Song, Xiaohua Ma, Yimou Wu Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci), an obligate intracellular agent of psittacosis, causes an atypical pneumonia in humans. The transmembrane head proteins (TMH) of C. psittaci, putatively belong to the Inc family and presumably play similar roles. CPSIT_0844 and CPSIT_0846 were the putativeTMH proteins of C. psittaci. To identify these two proteinsantisera were raised with fusion proteins which were prokaryotic expressed in E.coli and purified. By immunofluorescence assay, CPSIT_0844 and CPSIT_0846 were localized in the inclusion membrane of C. psittaci-infected cells. By RT-PCR and western blot analysis to detect the temporal expression, CPSIT_0844 and CPSIT_0846 were detected as early as 12h post-infection (p.i.) and 6h p.i., separately; meanwhile, in secretions monitored with immunofluorescence assay, these proteins were observed in the inclusion membrane at 18h p.i. and remained in the inclusion membrane throughout the growth cycle. CPSIT_0844 and CPSIT_0846 could specifically be recognized by the antiserum of C. psittaci but failed to react with the antiserums of C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae, which is consistent with the fact that they had no significant orthologs in C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae. These results revealed that CPSIT_0844 and CPSIT_0846, t...
Source: Microbiological Research - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research