T. pallidum achieves immune evasion by blocking autophagic flux in microglia through hexokinase 2.

Increasing evidence suggests that immune cell clearance is closely linked to cellular metabolism. Neurosyphilis, a severe neurological disorder caused by Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) infection, significantly impacts the brain.

A 4-fold or greater decrease in TPPA titers may indicate effective BPG treatment in primary syphilis.

Background: In the majority of clinical environments, the treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) test is known for its higher specificity compared to the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test and is commonly employed for the diagnosis of syphilis, but their use for serological monitoring after syphilis therapy is controversial.

Objectives: We aim to evaluate whether the TPPA titers is suitable for monitoring syphilis treatment efficacy.

Methods: At first, 232 patients with primary syphilis were recruited.

Treponema pallidum promoted microglia apoptosis and prevented itself from clearing by human microglia via blocking autophagic flux.

Treponema pallidum (Tp) has a well-known ability to evade the immune system and can cause neurosyphilis by invading the central nervous system (CNS). Microglia are resident macrophages of the CNS that are essential for host defense against pathogens, this study aims to investigate the interaction between Tp and microglia and the potential mechanism. Here, we found that Tp can exert significant toxic effects on microglia in vivo in Tg (mpeg1: EGFP) transgenic zebrafish embryos.