AUTHOR=Messinger Joshua E. , Nelton Emmalin , Feeney Colleen , Gondek David C. 

TITLE=Chlamydia Infection Across Host Species Boundaries Promotes Distinct Sets of Transcribed Anti-Apoptotic Factors

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2015.00096

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2015.00096

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Chlamydiae</italic>, obligate intracellular bacteria, cause significant human and veterinary associated diseases. Having emerged an estimated 700-million years ago, these bacteria have twice adapted to humans as a host species, causing sexually transmitted infection (<italic>C. trachomatis</italic>) and respiratory associated disease (<italic>C. pneumoniae</italic>). The principle mechanism of host cell defense against these intracellular bacteria is the induction of cell death via apoptosis. However, in the “arms race” of co-evolution, <italic>Chlamydiae</italic> have developed mechanisms to promote cell viability and inhibit cell death. Herein we examine the impact of <italic>Chlamydiae</italic> infection across multiple host species on transcription of anti-apoptotic genes. We found mostly distinct patterns of gene expression (Mcl1 and cIAPs) elicited by each pathogen-host pair indicating <italic>Chlamydiae</italic> infection across host species boundaries does not induce a universally shared host response. Understanding species specific host-pathogen interactions is paramount to deciphering how potential pathogens become emerging diseases.</p>