Lecture 3: Chlamydia

Question 1

What are pathogenic characteristics of Chlamydia?

Answer 1

Small obligate intracellular bacteria.

Question 2

What is the life cycle of Chlamydia?

Answer 2

Infectious extracellular form: Rugged Elementary body

Form intracellular inclusions and begin to replicate by binary fission.

Replicating intracellular metabolic form: Reticulate body

Question 3

What is one known virulence factor for Chlamydia?

Answer 3

T3SS, use for entry and establishing inclusions.

Question 4

What disease does C. Trachomatis cause?

Answer 4

Common urogenital infection, other infectious diseases

Question 5

What types of chlamydia cause pneumonia?

Answer 5

C. pneumoniae, C. psittaci, C. Trachomatis

Question 6

When to treat chlamydia?

Answer 6

Physical findings can be basis for treatment.
Tissue cultue for C. trachomatis in rape victims.

Serology or MIF to distinguish pneumonia cause

Question 7

How to treat chlamydia?

Answer 7

Tetracyclines (doxycycline) except for pregnant/pediatric/allergic, then use erythromycin or other alternatives.