Chlamydia Trachomatis

Chlamydia trachomatis, an obligate intracellular human pathogen, is one of three bacterial species in the genus Chlamydia. C. trachomatis is a Gram-negative bacteria, therefore its cell wall components retain the counter-stain safranin and appear pink under a light microscope.

The inclusion bodies of Chlamydia trachomatis were first described in 1942, the Chlamydia trachomatis agent was first cultured in the yolk sacs of eggs by Feifan Tang et al in 1957.

Chlamydial infection. Advances in the diagnostic isolation of Chlamydia, including TRIC agent, from the eye, genital tract, and rectum.

C. trachomatis includes three human biovars:

• serovars Ab, B, Ba, or C - cause trachoma: infection of the eyes which can lead to blindness and is prevalent in Africa
• serovars D-K - cause urethritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, neonatal pneumonia, and neonatal conjunctivitis
• serovars L1, L2 and L3 - lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV).

Many, but not all, C. trachomatis strains have an extrachromosomal plasmid.

In a study released on March 12, 2012 in Nature Genetics, researchers have found that Chlamydia has evolved more actively than was previously thought. Using whole genome sequencing the researchers show that the exchange of DNA between different strains of Chlamydia to form new strains is much more common than expected.