CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS CONTAINS A PROTEIN SIMILAR TO THE LEGIONELLA-PNEUMOPHILA MIP GENE-PRODUCT

A 27kDa Chlamydia trachomatis L2 protein was characterized by the use of monoclonal antibodies and by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The protein was shown to be located in the membrane of reticulate bodies as well as elementary bodies. Its synthesis could be detected from 10 hours post-infection. Cloning and sequence analysis of the distal part of the gene revealed an open reading frame of 175 amino acids. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence with the NBRF data base revealed significant homology between the 27kDa chlamydial membrane protein and the product of the macrophage infectivity potentiator (mip) gene of Legionella pneumophila.