Intranasal immunization with recombinant chlamydial protease-like activity factor attenuates atherosclerotic pathology following Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in mice.

We have shown previously that intranasal vaccination with recombinant chlamydial protease-like activity factor (rCPAF: antigen) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) as an adjuvant induces robust protection against pathological consequences of female genital tract infection with Chlamydia muridarum, a closely related species and a rodent model for the human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. Another related species Chlamydia pneumoniae, a human respiratory pathogen, has been associated with exacerbation of atherosclerotic pathology. CPAF is highly conserved among Chlamydia spp.