Infectious dose and repeated infections are key factors influencing immune response characteristics in guinea pig ocular chlamydial infection.
Microbes Infect
; 18(4): 254-62, 2016 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26706818
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine whether infectious dose of Chlamydia caviae after repeated infections influences the immunological responses and subsequent clearance of pathogen at the ocular surface of guinea pigs. Animals were infected three times via the conjunctiva at six- and twelve-week intervals by applying either 1 × 10(4) or 1 × 10(6) inclusion-forming units (IFUs) of C. caviae. Ocular pathology, infection course, C. caviae-specific serum IgG levels and their capacity to bind and neutralize infection ex vivo were assessed. Animals infected with 1 × 10(4) IFUs had completely diminished ocular infection and pathology after the 2nd infection with increased levels of C. caviae-specific serum IgG and their effective capacity to bind and neutralize C. caviae. Only partial protection was observed in animals infected with 1 × 10(6) IFUs after the 2nd and 3rd infections. Our findings show that full protection was observed in animals repeatedly infected with the lower dose. The lower dose appeared not to compromise the host immune system, thereby enabling fast clearance of the pathogen and the establishment of competent neutralizing antibodies.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Infecções por Chlamydia
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Infecções Oculares
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Chlamydia
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2016
Tipo de documento:
Article