%0 Journal Article
%T Structural Modelling of the Chlamydia Trachomatis Major Outer Membrane Protein Provides Insights into Immunogenic Properties of its External loops in Serotypes E and K
%A Olga A. Lytovchenko
%J European Researcher
%D 2013
%I European Researcher
%X Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted pathogens, causing serious health risks worldwide. Based on serological properties of the chlamydial major outer membrane protein, up to 19 serovars of C.trachomatis can be distinguished, having different antigenic properties and clinical manifestations. In this study, the antibody response to the variable domains of the major outer membrane protein of C. trachomatis serotypes E and K was analyzed in connection with the structural models of its extracellular loops. We propose that the reduction of antibody formation to the antigens of some variable domains may be caused by their shielding by other external loops. It has been shown that the entire structure of the second and fifth loops of genotype E are more compact and have minimal chain exposure due shielding with the more unfolded third and seventh loops. This corresponds to the absence of significant antibody response to their variable domains VDI and VDII. In genotype K entire structure of the second and the fifth loops is more unfolded, their shielding with the third and seventh loops is not so complete. As a consequence their variable domains induce antibody production in infected organism
%K Chlamydia trachomatis
%K serotypes E
%K K
%K major outer membrane protein
%K variable domains
%K antibody formation
%K models of external loops
%K shielding
%U http://www.erjournal.ru/pdf.html?n=1364763308.pdf