Influence of lectins, hexoses, and neuraminidase on the association of purified elementary bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis UW-31 with HeLa cells

Abstract

Using highly purified elementary bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis UW-31 (serotype K), we found that HeLa 229 monolayer cultures bound more 32P-labeled chlamydiae after pretreatment with the lectin wheat germ agglutinin. The lectin, on the other hand, inhibited competitively when chlamydial association was assayed in the presence of polycations. The two effects of wheat germ agglutinin were abolished when N-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuNAc)or N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc)-preincubated wheat germ agglutinin was used. Brief exposure of HeLa cells to neuraminidase abolished the ability to bind the elementary bodies, whether or not polycations were present. Furthermore, at 5°C but not at 37°C, NeuNAc, GlcNAc and N-acetylgalactosamine inhibited chlamydial association only in the absence of the polycation DEAE-dextran. The results suggest that NeuNAc residues on the plasma membrane are the principal, but not the only, receptors for this strain of C. trachomatis.

Comparative biology of intracellular parasitism.

“…The same heat treatment that destroys the ability of C. psittaci and LGV to attach to host cells has no effect on the trachoma biovar, and digestion of host cells with trypsin does not keep them from associating with chlamydiae of the trachonia biovar (240). However, pretreatment of host cells with neuraminidase, which does not destroy their ability to attach LGV and C. psittaci, inhibits attachment of the trachoma biovar (45,46,231). Pretreatment of host cells with polycations such as diethylaminoethyl-dextran stimulates the entry of the trachoma biovar but not that of the other two kinds of chlamydiae (231,384).…”

Binding, ingestion, and growth of Chlamydia trachomatis (L2 serovar) analyzed by flow cytometry

“…Previous analyses of host cell-chlamydia interactions have been unable to assess quantitatively both the number of cells interacting with bacteria and the relative number of bacteria interacting with cells. To monitor binding and ingestion of chlamydia, radiolabeled bacteria are usually incubated with target cell populations, and the amount of associated radioaqtivity is measured (3)(4)(5)(8)(9)(10)14,15). This method permits quantitative determination of relative numbers of bacteria interacting with cell populations, but not the number of cells actively involved in these associations.…”

“…Substantial effort has been made to study factors that affect chlamydia-host cell interactions (3,(8)(9)(10)14,15,17). Manv of these investigations utilize methods that char- means for analyzing chlamydia1 growth and development.…”

“…Interactions between chlamydiae and host cells have been studied previously using radiolabaeled bacteria and analyses of whole cell populations (total radioactivity associated with cells) (3)(4)(5)(8)(9)(10)14,15). Fluorescent antibody techniques have been used qualitatively to detect intracellular inclusions (organelles containing proliferating bacteria) (19); these methods have not been adapted to study quantitative interactions between chlamydiae and eukaryotic cells.…”

Characterisation of 20-kDa lectin-spermagglutinin from Arum maculatum that prevents Chlamydia pneumoniae infection of L-929 fibroblast cells

“…Phagocytosis, mediated by eukaryotic cell surface lectins, was suggested as an alternative mechanism of chlamydial uptake. Other data veri¢ed the N-acetylneuraminic acid residues and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues on HeLa and McCoy cells as the principal, but not the only receptors for C. trachomatis UW-31 (serotype K) and C. trachomatis L1 [12,13]. There are limited data about the key surface com-0928-8244 / 02 / $22.00 ß 2002 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.…”