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PubMed2004

Inactivation of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae by ozone.

AIMS: To clarify the inhibitory effects of ozone on Chlamydia trachomatis and C. pneumoniae. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cell culture was performed using HeLa229 cells for C. trachomatis, and Human Line cells for C. pneumoniae. C. trachomatis strain D/UW-3/Cx and C. pneumoniae strain AR-39 were used. Ozone water was generated by an ozone water dispenser and diluted to desired concentration just before each experiment. Preinoculation minimum cidal concentration (MCC) and postinoculation MCC methods were employed. In preinoculation MCC, chlamydial strains were treated with serially diluted ozone water followed by inoculation to cells. In postinoculation method, chlamydial strains were inoculated to cells and incubated for 24 h. Then infected cells were treated with ozone water, followed by additional incubation for 48 h. Complete inactivation was obtained in preinoculation MCC method at 0.5 ppm of ozone water for 30 s, or 4 ppm for 5 s. CONCLUSION: Ozone at a concentration of 4 ppm was enough for immediate inactivation of both C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Ozone water at 4 ppm should be applicable for prevention of C. trachomatis urogenital infections.

Cell Line↗
PubMed1992

[Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and IDEIA Chlamydia in detection of Chlamydia trachomatis from first-voided urine of male urethritis patients].

We have reported a method for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two oligonucleotides based on sequences within the major outer membrane protein gene from C. trachomatis serovar L2. In the previous report, in addition to treatment of the mixture of first-voided urine (FVU) sediment and 1 ml of urine with proteinase K. DNA purification by phenol extraction was necessary for preparation of template DNA for PCR. In this study, FVU sediment was suspended in 1 ml of Chlamydiazyme dilution buffer and a part of the suspension was treated with proteinase K for DNA extraction. The DNA extraction solution could be used as template for PCR without purification of DNA by phenol extraction. One hundred FVU specimens obtained from male urethritis patients were examined with the two methods (PCR and IDEIA) for detection of C. trachomatis. In 33 of 100 specimens, the DNA fragments of C. trachomatis was amplified by the PCR and in 32 of 100, the chlamydial antigen was detected by IDEIA. The positive and negative coincidence rate of the PCR to IDEIA were 93.8% (30.32) and 95.6% (65/68) respectively, resulting in a high overall coincidence rate at 95%. Thus, the improved method with PCR using FVU as a specimen is proved to be a useful, non-invasive diagnostic tool for diagnosis of chlamydial urethritis.

Chlamydia trachomatis↗
PubMed1989

Identification of genus-specific epitopes on the outer membrane complexes of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia psittaci immunotypes 1 and 2.

Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were used to study the immunogenic and antigenic characteristics of chlamydiae. We focused on the most predominant proteins in the outer membrane complex, the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) and the doublet consisting of proteins of 57 and 62 kilodaltons (57-62 kDa doublet). Immunoblot analyses were performed with chlamydial elementary bodies by using (i) immune sera from sheep which had undergone a recent episode of abortion due to the ovine abortion (OA) strain of C. psittaci, (ii) rabbit hyperimmune anti-C. psittaci (OA) and -C. trachomatis sera, and (iii) monoclonal antibodies to the MOMP of C. trachomatis. The typical pattern of response with polyclonal antisera against heterologous elementary bodies was reactivity with the 57-62 kDa doublet and lipopolysaccharide with weak and sometimes no anti-MOMP activity. Three distinct genus-specific anti-C. trachomatis MOMP monoclonal antibodies showed different patterns of reactivity with the MOMPs of the two immunotypes of C. psittaci and C. trachomatis serovars. Our data confirm the predominance of a genus-specific 57-62 kDa doublet response despite the presence of genus-specific epitopes on the MOMP.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cross-reactive cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-mediated lysis of Chlamydia trachomatis- and Chlamydia psittaci-infected cells.

Cells infected with Chlamydia trachomatis are lysed by CD8+ T cells in vitro. The ability of C. trachomatis-elicited spleen cells to lyse target cells infected with other chlamydial strains was determined by measuring lysis by immune spleen cells of targets infected with three strains of C. trachomatis and two strains of C. psittaci. C. trachomatis (lymphogranuloma venereum [LGV])-elicited immune murine spleen cells lysed target cells infected with other C. trachomatis serovars, although with lower sensitivity than they lysed LGV-infected target cells. Additionally, target cells infected with C. psittaci were lysed by C. trachomatis-elicited immune spleen cells. Notably, C. psittaci-infected cells were lysed with greater efficiency than were cells infected with the C. trachomatis strain used to elicit the immune spleen cells. The lysis of C. psittaci-infected cells was characterized further and could be only partially accounted for by CD8+ T-cell-mediated lysis, the remaining lysis being due to an antigen-nonspecific component. These results indicate that mechanisms of immunologically mediated lysis differ between C. trachomatis- and C. psittaci-infected cells. This has important implications for the interpretation of results obtained with C. psittaci models of infection and immune resolution, particularly as they may be extrapolated to C. trachomatis.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Randomized secondary prevention trial of azithromycin in patients with coronary artery disease and serological evidence for Chlamydia pneumoniae infection: The Azithromycin in Coronary Artery Disease: Elimination of Myocardial Infection with Chlamydia (ACADEMIC) study.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae commonly causes respiratory infection, is vasotropic, causes atherosclerosis in animal models, and has been found in human atheromas. Whether it plays a causal role in clinical coronary artery disease (CAD) and is amenable to antibiotic therapy is uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: CAD patients (n=302) who had a seropositive reaction to C pneumoniae (IgG titers >/=1:16) were randomized to receive placebo or azithromycin, 500 mg/d for 3 days, then 500 mg/wk for 3 months. Circulating markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin [IL]-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha), C pneumoniae antibody titers, and cardiovascular events were assessed at 3 and 6 months. Treatment groups were balanced, with age averaging 64 (SD=10) years; 89% of the patients were male. Azithromycin reduced a global rank sum score of the 4 inflammatory markers at 6 (but not 3) months (P=0. 011) as well as the mean global rank sum change score: 531 (SD=201) for active drug and 587 (SD=190) for placebo (P=0.027). Specifically, change-score ranks were significantly lower for CRP (P=0.011) and IL-6 (P=0.043). Antibody titers were unchanged, and number of clinical cardiovascular events at 6 months did not differ by therapy (9 for active drug, 7 for placebo). Azithromycin decreased infections requiring antibiotics (1 versus 12 at 3 months, P=0.002) but caused more mild, primarily gastrointestinal, adverse effects (36 versus 17, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: In CAD patients positive for C pneumoniae antibodies, global tests of 4 markers of inflammation improved at 6 months with azithromycin. However, unlike another smaller study, no differences in antibody titers and clinical events were observed. Longer-term and larger studies of antichlamydial therapy are indicated.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

The atherogenic effects of chlamydia are dependent on serum cholesterol and specific to Chlamydia pneumoniae.

Epidemiological investigations have linked Chlamydia pneumoniae infection to atherosclerosis. It is not clear, however, whether C. pneumoniae infection plays a causal role in the development of atherosclerosis. Mice with low-density lipoprotein receptor deficiency were induced to develop atherosclerotic lesions in aorta with a cholesterol-enriched diet that increased serum cholesterol by two- to threefold. Using this mouse model, we found that the chlamydial infection alone with either the C. pneumoniae AR39 or the C. trachomatis MoPn strain failed to induce any significant atherosclerotic lesions in aorta over a period of nine months. However, in the presence of a high-cholesterol diet, infection with the C. pneumoniae AR39 strain significantly exacerbated the hypercholesterolemia-induced atherosclerosis, demonstrating that a hypercholesterolemic condition is required for the C. pneumoniae to aggravate the development of atherosclerosis. Although both AR39 and MoPn antigens were detected in aorta of mice infected with the corresponding strains, only mice infected with the C. pneumoniae strain AR39 displayed enhanced atherosclerotic lesions, suggesting that the C. pneumoniae species may possess a unique atherogenic property. This study may provide a model for further understanding the mechanisms of C. pneumoniae atherogenesis and evaluating chlamydial intervention strategies for preventing the advancement of atherosclerotic lesions enhanced by C. pneumoniae infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

A clinical and epidemiological study of "ornithosis" caused by Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR).

Ornithosis is a notifiable disease in Sweden since 1954. In 1981 and 1982 a sharp increase in the number of notifications occurred. Since then the number has declined but is still high. A changed epidemiology characterized by no history of bird contact and no common source, raised the suspicion of a new agent. Serological data now suggest that the epidemic was to a substantial part due to Chlamydia pneumoniae (strain TWAR) (48% of the patients during 1981-1982 compared to 9% during 1984-1987). During recent years TWAR infections have thus become uncommon but reappearance can be expected in the near future. The clinical picture as well as the complications appear to be very similar in infections caused by C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

In vitro inhibitory effects of tea polyphenols on the proliferation of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae.

In vitro inhibitory effects of tea polyphenols on Chlamydia trachomatis and C. pneumoniae were investigated. A product of tea polyphenols, Polyphenon 70S was used. Chlamydial strains used were C. trachomatis D/UW-3/Cx and L(2)/434/Bu, and C. pneumoniae AR-39 and AC-43 strains. HeLa229 cells and HL cells were used for cultivation of C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae, respectively. In the post-inoculation method, no inclusions of C. trachomatis were observed at 0.5 mg/ml of Polyphenon 70S. However, the toxicity of Polyphenon 70S was noted in HeLa229 cells and HL cells at a concentration of 0.25 mg/ml. In the pre-inoculation method, no toxic effects of Polyphenon 70S on the cells were noted. Complete inhibition of C. trachomatis D and L(2) was noted at concentrations of 1.6 and 0.4 mg/ml, respectively. With C. pneumoniae strains, the end points were 0.8 and 1.6 mg/ml for AR-39 and AC-43, respectively. Our findings encouraged the application of tea polyphenols for topical usage.

Chlamydia trachomatis↗
PubMed1983

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia psittaci.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed with use of a strain of Chlamydia trachomatis, lymphogranuloma venereum serotype 2. The ELISA reactions were monitored by absorbance at 492 nm in a spectrophotometer. A positive control method based on one serum dilution was used to assign ELISA titers to the sera. Sera that had been tested with use of complement fixation (CF) and microimmunofluorescence (MIF) tests were examined with ELISA. ELISA was more sensitive than the CF test and as sensitive as the MIF test. Serum pairs that had diagnostic titer rises in the other tests also had such rises in ELISA. ELISA is a simple, sensitive assay for detection of antibody to C. trachomatis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1995

The CrP operon of Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia pneumoniae.

One of the critical developmental events during the unique intracellular life cycle of Chlamydiae is their differentiation from a metabolically active, replicative form or reticulate body (RB) to an infectious extracellular form of the organism (elementary body or EB). This process is characterized by the expression of two extraordinarily cysteine-rich envelope proteins of molecular masses 9 kDa and 60 kDa. We describe the molecular cloning and sequence determination of the 9 kDa cysteine-rich proteins (CrPs) of C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci. Comparison of these 9 kDa CrP amino acid sequences with those of C. trachomatis showed regions of structural variation and conservation. Transcription of the 9 kDa CrP genes occurred as both a monocistronic message and as a bicistronic message which included the 60 kDa CrP gene. Transcription of the 9 kDa and 60 kDa CrP genes was tightly linked to the chlamydial growth cycle with synthesis of their mRNAs and consequent translation of the 60 kDa CrPs occurring as RBs differentiated to form EBs. The maximal rate of transcription occurred late in the growth cycle from a single but highly conserved promoter which had close similarity with the Escherichia coli consensus promoter sequences. A stem and loop structure which could be involved in regulating translation of mRNA occurred in all three species between the transcriptional start point and the ribosome binding site. Although transcription is initiated from a single promoter in all three chlamydial species, transcriptional termination points for the monocistronic and bicistronic mRNAs differ in both number and position.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Chlamydia pneumoniae in elderly patients with stroke (C-PEPS): a case-control study on the seroprevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in elderly patients with acute cerebrovascular disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple studies have suggested an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and atherosclerotic vascular disease. We investigated whether serological markers of C. pneumoniae infection were associated with acute stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), exclusively in elderly patients. METHODS: One-hundred white patients aged over 65 years admitted with acute stroke or TIA, and 87 control patients admitted with acute non-cardiopulmonary, non-infective disorders were recruited prospectively. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, the presence of C. pneumoniae immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, IgM in patients' sera was determined. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of C. pneumoniae-specific IgA, IgG, IgM were 63, 71, and 14% in the stroke/TIA group (median age = 80), and 62, 65, and 17% in the control group (median age = 80), respectively. Using a logistic regression statistical model, adjusting for age and sex, history of hypertension, smoking, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), ischaemic electrocardiogram (ECG), the odds ratios (ORs) of having a stroke/TIA in relation to C. pneumoniae-specific IgA, IgG, IgM were 1.04, 1.24, 0.79 (p = NS). Further analysis identified 43 acute stroke/TIA cases and 44 controls without history of IHD or ischaemic ECG or both. After adjusting for history of hypertension, smoking, diabetes, age and sex, the ORs in this subgroup were 1.40 for IgA [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.53-3.65; p = 0.49], 2.41 for IgG (95% CI 0.90-6.46; p = 0.08) and 1.55 for IgM (95% CI 0.45-5.40; p = 0.49). CONCLUSIONS: Although a high seroprevalence of C. pneumoniae in elderly patients was confirmed, no significant association between serological markers of C. pneumoniae infection and acute cerebrovascular events was found. There was, however, a weak trend towards increased ORs for acute cerebrovascular disease in a subgroup of C. pneumoniae seropositive elderly patients without any history of IHD or ischaemic ECG.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Prevalence of chlamydia pneumoniae in Japanese rural districts; association of smoking and physical activity with Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a large-scale cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and clarify the association between seropositivity and risk factors, such as smoking status, physical activity and body mass index in Japanese rural districts. METHODS: A total of 1,063 men and 1,573 women aged 18-94 years participated in 1999. Serum index values (ID) of IgA and IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae were measured by ELISA. Index values were categorized as "negative" (ID < 1.10), "positive" (ID > or = 1.10) and "high positive" (ID > or = 3.00). Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratios for C. pneumoniae seropositivity. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of C. pneumoniae IgA seropositivity was 52.5%, and that of IgG was 55.2%. Each seropositivity significantly increased with age. The prevalence among men was significantly higher than in women in C. pneumoniae IgG "high positive" subjects. Compared with never-smokers, the adjusted odds ratio of current smokers was 2.00 (95% CI: 1.45-2.77) for C. pneumoniae IgA seropositivity. The adjusted odds ratio of the higher tertiles of physical activity for C. pneumoniae IgG seropositivity was 1.42 (1.12-1.80) compared with the lower tertiles. In "high positive" subjects, smoking was associated with both immune complexes. CONCLUSION: We confirmed a high prevalence of C. pneumoniae seropositivity among healthy Japanese adults. The results indicated that smoking and high physical activity were associated with C. pneumoniae infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in acute respiratory tract infection and detection of anti-Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific IgE in Japanese children with reactive airway disease.

We examined the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae in acute respiratory tract infection and association of C. pneumoniae infection and reactive airway disease in Japanese children. Four hundred eleven children with acute respiratory tract infection were enrolled in this study, and C. pneumoniae was isolated from 58 (14.1%) patients by culture. Evidence of infection with C. pneumoniae was detected in 58 children with pneumonia (34.5%), bronchitis (41.4%) and upper respiratory tract infection (24.1%). Twenty-nine (50.0%) out of 58 patients were younger than 5 years old and 18 (31.0%) had wheezing at first visit. A logistic test for anti-C. pneumoniae-specific IgE showed the deference in the fluorescence unit between the patients with C. pneumoniae infection with and without wheezing was statistically significant (Po = 0.02748, to = 2.31891). In conclusion, C. pneumoniae seems to be an important respiratory tract pathogen among young Japanese children, and our results support the association of C. pneumoniae infection and reactive airway disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2001

[Clinical significance of interaction between Chlamydia infection (Chlamydia pneumoniae) and free radical processes during ischemic heart disease].

AIM: To determine occurrence and activity of chlamydial infection (CI) as well as activity of free radical processes in clinical course of different forms of ischemic heart disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 34 coronary heart disease (CHD) patients entered the study. 23(67.6%) of them had effort angina and unstable angina, 11(32.4%) patients had non-Q myocardial infarction (19 men and 15 women). 14 healthy donors served control. CI was detected with enzyme immunoassay. The examinations were made in exacerbation and 2 weeks later in clinical improvement. Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in the tissues of the aorta and left coronary artery was studied in 15 dead bodies using the polymeric chain reaction. Generation of active oxygen forms by leukocytes was tested by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence method. In addition, the patients and donors were examined for malonic dialdehyde. RESULTS: Titers of IgA and IgG of C. pneumoniae antibodies were high in CHD exacerbation. IgM antibodies were not found in the diagnostic titers. Follow-up values of IgA and IgG titers lowered. C. pneumoniae was found in 12 of 15 autopsy specimens. Basal and stimulated indices of leukocytic generation of active oxygen forms in patients with CHD exacerbation were higher than in donors. Later, the generation declined. Malonic dialdehyde was also elevated in the exacerbation and lowered in clinical improvement. A correlation exists between IgA and IgG antibodies titers and chemiluminescence intensity in CHD exacerbation. CONCLUSION: In progression of atherosclerotic process including CHD and its exacerbations CI and free radical processes activate. These may be related showing a feasibility of C. pneumoniae involvement in development of atherosclerosis.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed2006

Adult calcific aortic stenosis and Chlamydia pneumoniae: the role of Chlamydia infection in valvular calcification.

BACKGROUND: Adult calcific aortic stenosis is a well-known clinical entity but its pathophysiology and cellular mechanism have yet to be defined. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there is an association between the presence and severity of adult calcific aortic stenosis and Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity. METHODS: Forty adult patients (23 women, 17 men) were divided into three groups according to echocardiographic aortic valve area: Group A - 7 symptomatic subjects (age 67 +/- 7 years) with normal aortic valve and normal coronary angiogram, Group B - 16 patients (age 73 +/- 6) with moderate ACAS (AVA > 0.8 < or = 1.5 cm2), and Group C - 17 patients (age 76 +/- 7) with severe ACAS (AVA +/- 0.8 cm2). We tested for immunoglobulins M, G and A as retrospective evidence of C. pneumoniae infection using the micro-immunofluorescence method. Past C. pneumoniae infection was defined by IgG titer > 16 < or = 512. RESULTS: No patients in group A showed positive Ig for C. pneumoniae. IgM was not detected in any of the patients with ACAS (groups B and C) while 2 of 17 patients (12%) in group C showed IgA for the pathogen. High titers of IgG were found in 14 of 33 (42%) of the patients with moderate or severe ACAS: 5 of 16 (31%) in group B and 9 of 17 (53%) in group C (P = 0.2). Both groups had the same prevalence of coronary artery disease (66%). AVA was lower in IgG-seropositive patients than in the seronegative group (0.88 +/- 0.3 cm2 vs. 1.22 +/- 0.4 cm2, respectively, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Past C. pneumoniae infection may be associated with a higher prevalence and greater severity of ACAS.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Application of intensified (+) Qi Gong energy, (-) electrical field, (S) magnetic field, electrical pulses (1-2 pulses/sec), strong Shiatsu massage or acupuncture on the accurate organ representation areas of the hands to improve circulation and enhance drug uptake in pathological organs: clinical applications with special emphasis on the "Chlamydia-(Lyme)-uric acid syndrome" and "Chlamydia-(cytomegalovirus)-uric acid syndrome".

Various methods of improving circulation and enhancing drug uptake which were used in treating some intractable medical problems caused by infections, and two syndromes based on the co-existence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection (mixed with either Lyme Borrelia burgdorferi or Cytomegalovirus) with increased Uric acid are described. The principal author's previous studies have indicated that there are two opposite types of Qi Gong energy, positive (+) and negative (-). Positive (+) Qi Gong energy has been used clinically to enhance circulation and drug uptake in diseased areas where there is a micro-circulatory disturbance and drug uptake is markedly diminished. (-) Qi Gong energy has completely the opposite effect and therefore has not been used although there may be some as yet undiscovered application. Since the late 1980's the principal author has succeeded in storing (+) Qi Gong energy on a variety of substances including small sheets of paper, and recently has been able to intensify this energy by concentrating it as it passes through a cone-shaped, tapered glass or plastic object placed directly on the (+) Qi Gong energy stored paper. Application of (+) Qi Gong energy stored paper on the cardio-vascular representation area of the medulla oblongata at the occipital area of the skull often improved circulation and enhanced drug uptake. If the drug-uptake enhancement was still not sufficient for the drug to reach therapeutic levels in the diseased organ, direct application of (+) Qi Gong from the practitioner's hand often enhanced the drug uptake more significantly. However, this direct method often results in the practitioner developing intestinal micro-hemorrhage within 24 hours which may or may not be noticed as mild intestinal discomfort with soft, slightly tarry stool. For intensifying (+) Qi Gong energy one of the most efficient shapes is a cone with increased intensification occurring at an optimal height. However when the total mass and the total distance from base to peak is increased beyond an optimal limit, the power decreases. Clinical application of Intensified (+) Qi Gong stored energy was evaluated in this preliminary study which indicated that intensified (+) Qi Gong energy application on the heart representation area of the middle finger on the hands markedly improved circulation in the corresponding organ, and increased drug uptake and acetylcholine even more effectively than some of the previously used drug enhancement methods (Shiatsu massage of the organ representation areas and/or application of (+) Qi Gong energy stored paper to the occipital area above the cardiovascular representation area of the medulla oblongata).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acupuncture Therapy↗