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J Med Microbiol 55 (2006), 879-886; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46445-0
© 2006 Society for General Microbiology
ISSN 1473-5644

Naturally occurring amino acids differentially influence the development of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae

Hesham M. Al-Younes1, Joscha Gussmann1, Peter R. Braun1, Volker Brinkmann2 and Thomas F. Meyer1

Department of Molecular Biology1 and Microscopy Core Facility2 , Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Schumannstr. 21/22, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Correspondence
Thomas F. Meyer
meyer{at}mpiib-berlin.mpg.de

Received 30 November 2005
Accepted 23 March 2006

The differential influence of individual amino acids on the growth of Chlamydia trachomatis versus Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) pneumoniae was investigated. Certain essential amino acids added in excess at the middle of the infection course resulted in varying degrees of abnormality in the development of the two species. If amino acids were added as early as 2 h post-infection, these effects were even more pronounced. The most effective amino acids in terms of C. trachomatis growth inhibition were leucine, isoleucine, methionine and phenylalanine. These amino acids elicited similar effects against C. pneumoniae, except methionine, which, surprisingly, showed a lower inhibitory activity. Tryptophan and valine marginally inhibited C. trachomatis growth and, paradoxically, led to a considerable enhancement of C. pneumoniae growth. On the other hand, some non-essential amino acids administered at the middle of or throughout the infection course differentially affected the development of the two species. For example, C. trachomatis growth was efficiently inhibited by glycine and serine, whereas C. pneumoniae was relatively less sensitive to these agents. Another difference was apparent for glutamate, glutamine and aspartate, which stimulated C. pneumoniae growth more than that of C. trachomatis. Overall, several distinctive patterns of susceptibility to excess amino acid levels were revealed for two representative C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae isolates. Perturbation of amino acid levels, e.g. of leucine and isoleucine, might form a basis for the development of novel treatment or preventive regimens for chlamydial diseases.

Abbreviations: EB, elementary body; Hyp, L-hydroxyproline; i.f.u., inclusion-forming unit; p.i., post-infection; RB, reticulate body.




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