Treponema pallidum Periplasmic and Membrane Proteins Are Recognized by Circulating and Skin CD4+ T Cells.
J Infect Dis
; 230(2): 281-292, 2024 Aug 16.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38932740
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Histologic and serologic studies suggest the induction of local and systemic Treponema pallidum-specific CD4+ T-cell responses to T. pallidum infection. We hypothesized that T. pallidum-specific CD4+ T cells are detectable in blood and in the skin rash of secondary syphilis and persist in both compartments after treatment.METHODS:
Peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from 67 participants were screened by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) ELISPOT response to T. pallidum sonicate. T. pallidum-reactive T-cell lines from blood and skin were probed for responses to 89 recombinant T. pallidum antigens. Peptide epitopes and HLA class II restriction were defined for selected antigens.RESULTS:
We detected CD4+ T-cell responses to T. pallidum sonicate ex vivo. Using T. pallidum-reactive T-cell lines we observed recognition of 14 discrete proteins, 13 of which localize to bacterial membranes or the periplasmic space. After therapy, T. pallidum-specific T cells persisted for at least 6 months in skin and 10 years in blood.CONCLUSIONS:
T. pallidum infection elicits an antigen-specific CD4+ T-cell response in blood and skin. T. pallidum-specific CD4+ T cells persist as memory in both compartments long after curative therapy. The T. pallidum antigenic targets we identified may be high-priority vaccine candidates.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Skin
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Treponema pallidum
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
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Syphilis
Limits:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
J Infect Dis
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Country of publication: