Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin-Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-65).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Miami University, Dept. of Microbiology, 2006. / Title from second page of PDF document. Document formatted into pages; contains [3], vi, 176 p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references (p. 131-176).

Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular pathogens that cause several serious conditions within the human host. Many of the symptoms associated with infection are thought to stem from the development of aberrant, or persistent, chlamydiae. Factors leading to chlamydial persistence include deprivation of amino acids, the release of certain cellular factors, or the addition of inhibitors of bacterial cell wall or DNA synthesis. Such changes within the chlamydial environment often lead to modifications in cell morphology, gene expression, chlamydial development, and antigen localization. In this report, I examine changes in antigen production and localization in Chlamydia-infected cells cultured in the presence of environmental stressors. There are three major areas of chlamydial biology examined: 1) how do the chlamydiae divide in the absence of FtsZ, 2) what is the importance of the predicted peptidoglycan hydrolase, PapQ; 3) what changes occur in antigen production and localization during the development of chlamydial persistence. One significant nonproteinacious factor apparently involved in chlamydial division is the SEP (septum) antigen, which localizes to the midcell of dividing chlamydiae. Non-dividing forms, such as persistent chlamydiae and EB, lack the septal placement of SEP, further suggesting the involvement of SEP in RB division. The production of the predicted hydrolase, PapQ, localizes to the cytosol of RB and, to a limited extent, within the EB. PapQ begins to accumulate as early as 12 hours after infection and during the time of RB-EB transition, an additional, smaller PapQ product accumulates. Ampicillin and tetracycline treatment inhibits accumulation of the smaller product suggesting that PapQ may be processed by a late expressed protease. This may have significance in RB-EB transition. The IncA-laden fibers protruding from the inclusion and into the host cytosol colocalize with a variety of different antigens that are generally restricted to the chlamydial outer membrane. Changes in culture conditions leads to changes in the amount and type of antigens localizing within the fibers. Chlamydial persistence dramatically influences the production and localization of several chlamydial antigens, creating significant changes in chlamydial cell biology that may enhance survival within the host. / Graduation date: 2003

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.81-103).

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.139-152).

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.85-113).

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1996.

Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1996.

A mouse in vitro co-culture model between endometrial epithelial cells (EEC) and peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes (PBLM) immune cells was established, and Ct lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added to the cells to mimic Ct bacterial infection and to stimulate an immune response. This model enabled us to study the cross-talk between EEC and PBLM and the physiological changes that occur in the endometrium upon Ct LPS stimulation. Results showed that EEC-PBLM co-culture and Ct LPS stimulation caused changes in transepithelial resistance (TER) as well as the expression and function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) ion channel of epithelial cells. CFTR gene transcription was up-regulated at early hours after Ct LPS stimulation, while its channel activity was down-regulated at later hours. These results suggested the possible involvement of CFTR acting as a receptor for the internalization of Ct, which may ultimately lead to the disappearance of CFTR on the apical membrane. The EEC-PBLM co-culture showed that cross-talk was important for host defense in the endometrium. Direct cross-talk by cell-cell contact between EEC and PBLM was vital for immune cell survival as well as strengthening epithelials' barrier function. (Abstract shortened by UMI.) / Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection is one of the most prevalent causes for sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the female reproductive tract. Ct is unique in that it is a bacterium, but infects and replicates like a virus inside a host cell. Ct infection can lead to a variety of reproductive diseases, such as pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID), tubule scarring, salpingitis, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Effective immune defense in the uterus is necessary to eliminate these bacteria and to ensure optimal uterine environment for sperm motility, fertilization, and embryo implantation to occur. The immune system of the endometrium responds to Ct infection by the recruitment of many types of leukocytes, such as T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils, to the site of infection. Cross-talk between endometrial epithelial cells and immune cells may alter the activities of epithelial cells causing changes in channels function and anion secretion. / Ho Alice. / "August 2005." / Adviser: Chan Hsiao Chang. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 3532. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-167). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Expedited partner therapy (EPT) is a strategy for treating the partners of chlamydia index cases by which a health care provider gives an index patient drugs or a prescription for treatment of chlamydia to deliver to their sex partner without an intervening medical evaluation of the partner. Despite routine offer of EPT in New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) sexual health clinics, the majority of patients who are eligible for EPT do not receive it, largely because EPT eligibility requires lab confirmation of chlamydial infection, which is lacking in situations where patients are treated for chlamydia on the same day they are tested for chlamydia (i.e., presumptive treatment). These patients become eligible for EPT after they leave the clinic and often do not return for EPT. This dissertation includes three papers: one systematic review and two original analyses. The objective of the systematic review was to synthesize existing estimates of EPT effectiveness to better understand the impact of biases on these estimates; a meta-analysis provided an aggregate estimate of the effectiveness of EPT for preventing index patient reinfection with chlamydia and/or gonorrhea. We found 6 studies that included some measure of EPT effectiveness. Meta-analysis revealed that EPT significantly reduced the risk of reinfection from chlamydia and/or gonorrhea, but it also revealed a substantial amount of heterogeneity. Systematic review revealed that inclusion of patients whose sex partners were at the clinic or already treated for infection was a common source of bias among existing estimates of EPT effectiveness. The two original analyses used data from NYC DOHMH sexual health clinics where EPT is routinely offered as patient delivered partner therapy (PDPT), a form of EPT where medication is given directly to the index patient. The objective of the first analysis was to identify predictors of presumptive treatment and predictors of being offered PDPT among patients eligible for PDPT in the NYC clinics. This analysis demonstrated that patient diagnosis as a contact to a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that would warrant treatment with azithromycin or doxycycline (termed STI contacts) was the best predictor of presumptive treatment in NYC DOHMH sexual health clinics. Patients who were not contacts to such STIs or who were STI contacts with more than one sex partner were more likely to be offered PDPT compared to patients who were STI contacts and reported ≤ 1 sex partner. Males not diagnosed as STI contacts were identified as a target population for increasing rates of PDPT offer. The objective of the last analysis was to provide an estimate of PDPT effectiveness for preventing index patient reinfection with chlamydia. This analysis was novel compared to existing estimates of EPT effectiveness in that we excluded patients whose sex partners were at the clinics at the time of chlamydia testing, treatment, or PDPT offer. We found that PDPT significantly reduced the risk of repeat chlamydial infection at both 6 months and 1 year after initial infection. This result was unchanged by multiple sensitivity analyses that assessed the validity of our estimate. In this dissertation, we were able to fill gaps in the literature regarding EPT implementation. The results may help to decrease missed opportunities for offering patients EPT and to support the continued scale-up and optimization of EPT.