Treponema pallidum Periplasmic and Membrane Proteins Are Recognized by Circulating and Skin CD4+ T Cells.

Background: Histologic and serologic studies suggest the induction of local and systemic Treponema pallidum-specific CD4+ T-cell responses to T. pallidum infection. We hypothesized that T.

periplasmic and membrane proteins are recognized by circulating and skin CD4+ T cells.

Background: Histologic and serologic studies suggest the induction of local and systemic ( )-specific CD4+ T cell responses to infection. We hypothesized that -specific CD4+ T cells are detectable in blood and in the skin rash of secondary syphilis and persist in both compartments after treatment.

Methods: PBMC collected from 67 participants were screened by IFNγ ELISPOT response to sonicate.

Genomic Epidemiology of Treponema pallidum and Circulation of Strains With Diminished tprK Antigen Variation Capability in Seattle, 2021-2022.

Background: The incidence of syphilis continues to increase in the United States, yet little is known about Treponema pallidum genomic epidemiology within American metropolitan areas.

Methods: We performed whole-genome sequencing and tprK deep sequencing of 28 T. pallidum-containing specimens, collected mostly from remnant Aptima swab specimens from 24 individuals from Seattle Sexual Health Clinic during 2021-2022.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Unmasked the Challenges Faced by Early-Stage Faculty in Infectious Diseases: A Call to Action.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated increase in family care responsibilities resulted in unsustainable personal and professional workloads for infectious diseases (ID) faculty on the front lines. This was especially true for early-stage faculty (ESF), many of whom had caregiving responsibilities. In addition, female faculty, underrepresented in medicine and science faculty and particularly ESF, experienced marked declines in research productivity, which significantly impacts career trajectories.

Transcription of TP0126, Treponema pallidum putative OmpW homolog, is regulated by the length of a homopolymeric guanosine repeat.

An effective mechanism for introduction of phenotypic diversity within a bacterial population exploits changes in the length of repetitive DNA elements located within gene promoters. This phenomenon, known as phase variation, causes rapid activation or silencing of gene expression and fosters bacterial adaptation to new or changing environments. Phase variation often occurs in surface-exposed proteins, and in Treponema pallidum subsp.

Antigenic variation of TprK facilitates development of secondary syphilis.

Although primary syphilis lesions heal spontaneously, the infection is chronic, with subsequent clinical stages. Healing of the primary chancre occurs as antibodies against outer membrane antigens facilitate opsonophagocytosis of the bacteria by activated macrophages. TprK is an outer membrane protein that undergoes antigenic variation at 7 variable regions, and variants are selected by immune pressure.

Comparative investigation of the genomic regions involved in antigenic variation of the TprK antigen among treponemal species, subspecies, and strains.

Although the three Treponema pallidum subspecies (T. pallidum subsp. pallidum, T.

Enhanced molecular typing of treponema pallidum: geographical distribution of strain types and association with neurosyphilis.

Background: Strain typing is a tool for determining the diversity and epidemiology of infections.

Methods: Treponema pallidum DNA was isolated from 158 patients with syphilis from the United States, China, Ireland, and Madagascar and from 15 T. pallidum isolates.