# Regulation and composition of ER-inclusion contacts at key stages of the Chlamydia developmental cycle

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · 2022 · $192,191

## Abstract

SUMMARY
 Chlamydia trachomatis is the leading cause of sexually transmitted infections of bacterial origin worldwide.
Vaccines are not available. Infections are often asymptomatic and left untreated, resulting in tissue scarring and
long-term consequences on female reproductive health. C. trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterial path-
ogen that undergoes a bi-phasic development cycle within a membrane bound compartment termed the inclu-
sion. To thrive in this confined environment, C. trachomatis must interact with cytosolic host factors and orga-
nelles, a process mediated by the insertion of Chlamydia specific Inclusion membrane proteins (Inc proteins)
into the inclusion membrane. One such interaction is the intimate contact between discrete sections of the inclu-
sion membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These structures are referred to as ER-Inclusion membrane
contact sites (MCS). Our initial characterization of ER-Inclusion MCS indicates an enrichment in Inc proteins and
host factors with functional, tethering and regulatory capacities. Depletion of some of these components is
detrimental to bacterial growth, underscoring the important role of ER-Inclusion MCS in establishing the
replicative niche. ER-Inclusion MCS are observed throughout the developmental cycle; however, it remains
unclear if and how functional, structural and regularoty components cooperate in the temporal assembly and
dissambly of the contact, and enrichment of specific components. Here we will investigate how ER-Inclusion
MCS assembly is regulated (Aim 1) and if association of specific components varies depending on the stage of
the developmental cycle (Aim 2). Altogether, the proposed studies will elucidate how components of ER-Inclusion
MCS allows for the establishment of the C. trachomatis replicative niche, which will guide the design of effective
therapeutics.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10352503
- **Project number:** 1R21AI166237-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
- **Principal Investigator:** ISABELLE DERRE
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $192,191
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-12-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10352503

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10352503, Regulation and composition of ER-inclusion contacts at key stages of the Chlamydia developmental cycle (1R21AI166237-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10352503. Licensed CC0.

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