Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes eye and genital tract infection in humans. C. trachomatis genital... Show moreChlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes eye and genital tract infection in humans. C. trachomatis genital tract infection is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases in United States. This pathogenic bacterium depends on the host cell for essential metabolites for energy generation and ATP as readily available energy source. Several previous studies have established interactions between the chlamydial inclusion and various host cell organelles, including the Golgi complex, nutrient rich exocytic vesicles and the cytoskeleton for survival in the host cell. However, the data available for chlamydial interactions with mitochondria is limited. In order to gain proper understanding of the host- pathogen relationship, the chlamydial inclusion interaction with mitochondria were evaluated, using HeLa cells as host. Immunostaining technique was used to stain uninfected and C. trachomatis (serovar L2b) infected HeLa cells at 7 different time points post infection- 8, 10, 12, 16, 18, 24, 36 hour post infection (hpi) and analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. The data showed that the chlamydial infection disrupts the well-organized mitochondrial network found in uninfected HeLa cells. C. trachomatis infected HeLa cells showed re-localization of cellular mitochondria toward the bacterial inclusion. The mitochondria were observed to begin re-localization at 10 hpi with gradual increase in per cent re-localization with subsequent time points. Highest per cent mitochondrial re-localization was observed at 36 hpi (81.1%), displaying all most all mitochondria accumulated around Chlamydial inclusion. The results clearly indicated the close association between host mitochondria and Chlamydial inclusion. Moreover, re-localization of mitochondria in close proximity of inclusion also indicated potential acquisition of essential metabolites and energy in form of ATP by bacterial inclusion from host mitochondria. M.S. in Biology, May 2017 Show less
