Direct detection and magnetic isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein-specific CD8+ CTLs with HLA class I tetramers.

We recently identified HLA class I-presented epitopes in the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis that elicit CTL responses in human genital tract infections. T cells possessing cytolytic activities specific for these epitopes could be detected following in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood CD8(+) T cells with peptides. In the present study we used HLA-A2 tetramers for detailed characterization of MOMP-specific CTL responses.

T-cell epitopes in variable segments of Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein elicit serovar-specific immune responses in infected humans.

We previously identified 18 stimulatory Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP) peptides containing at least 23 epitopes presented with various HLA class II allotypes. Only one peptide contained an epitope localized in a variable segment (VS2). Continued studies reported here identified a total of five VS peptides containing T-cell epitopes that are distributed among MOMPs VS1, VS2, and VS4.

Induction of HLA class I-restricted CD8+ CTLs specific for the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis in human genital tract infections.

HLA class I-restricted CD8+ CTLs specific for the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of Chlamydia trachomatis are present in the peripheral blood of humans who acquired genital tract infections with the organism. Three HLA-A2-restricted epitopes and two HLA-B51-restricted epitopes were identified in serovar E-MOMP. One of the five epitopes spans a variable segment of MOMP and is likely a serovar E-specific epitope.

Chlamydia trachomatis major outer membrane protein (MOMP) epitopes that activate HLA class II-restricted T cells from infected humans.

We localized peptide epitopes within the Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) major outer membrane protein (MOMP) that activate human T cells. T-MOMP' cells were prepared by culturing PBL from 38 humans who had Ct infections in the presence of Ct serovar E MOMP. Some epitopes were first localized by quantifying proliferative responses of T-MOMP' cells to overlapping MOMP segments (sixths) that were produced in Escherichia coli.

A model for evaluating the history taking and physical examination skills of medical students.

As indicated by George Engel (1982) the instructor being present while a student takes a history and performs a physical examination has been notoriously lacking in the clinical years of a medical student's education. Similarly in the pre-clinical Introduction to Clinical Medicine courses when basic instruction in these skills are taught, the incompatibilities of the instructor's and student's schedules make review with the instructor difficult. These incompatibilities make valid assessment of the student's skills difficult and feedback to the student almost non-existent.