Abstract
Ascending infection by sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis is required for chlamydial induction of tubal pathology. To achieve ascension, the C. trachomatis organisms may have to spread from cell to cell, which inevitably exposes the organisms to extracellular mucosal effectors such as complement factors that are known to possess strong antichlamydial activities. Here, we report that the chlamydia-secreted protease CPAF efficiently neutralized complement factor C3-dependent antichlamydial activity. The neutralization was dependent on the proteolytic activity of CPAF and correlated with the CPAF-mediated degradation of complement factor C3 and factor B. As a result, CPAF preferentially inhibited the alternative complement activation pathway. The significance and limitation of these observations were discussed.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.