A systems serology approach to the investigation of infection-induced antibody responses and protection in trachoma.

Background: Ocular infections with Chlamydia trachomatis serovars A-C cause the neglected tropical disease trachoma. As infection does not confer complete immunity, repeated infections are common, leading to long-term sequelae such as scarring and blindness. Here, we apply a systems serology approach to investigate whether systemic antibody features are associated with susceptibility to infection.
Methods: Sera from children in five trachoma endemic villages in the Gambia were assayed for 23 antibody features: IgG responses towards two C. trachomatis antigens and three serovars [elementary bodies and major outer membrane protein (MOMP), serovars A-C], IgG responses towards five MOMP peptides (serovars A-C), neutralization, and antibody-dependent phagocytosis. Participants were considered resistant if they subsequently developed infection only when over 70% of other children in the same compound were infected.
Results: The antibody features assayed were not associated with resistance to infection (false discovery rate < 0.05). Anti-MOMP SvA IgG and neutralization titer were higher in susceptible individuals ( p < 0.05 before multiple testing adjustment). Classification using partial least squares performed only slightly better than chance in distinguishing between susceptible and resistant participants based on systemic antibody profile (specificity 71%, sensitivity 36%).
Conclusions: Systemic infection-induced IgG and functional antibody responses do not appear to be protective against subsequent infection. Ocular responses, IgA, avidity, or cell-mediated responses may play a greater role in protective immunity than systemic IgG.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2023 Barton, Rosenkrands, Pickering, Faal, Harte, Joof, Makalo, Ragonnet, Olsen, Bailey, Mabey, Follmann, Dietrich and Holland.)