Epitope clusters in the major outer membrane protein of Chlamydia trachomatis

Immunopathology that is caused by re-infection with Chlamydia trachomatis i s very common in humans despite regular responses to multiple, often conser ved, antibody and T cell epitopes. Recurrent mutations that disrupt T cell epitopes in the major outer membrane protein in clinical isolates and the r educed transcription of HLA genes by infected cells may be evidence for pat hogen evasion of protective immune responses. Subunit vaccines containing r ecently discovered clusters of T cell epitopes in the major outer membrane protein that are presented with diverse HLA allotypes may allow widespread protective immunization while avoiding the suppression of lasting immunity that occurs by unknown mechanisms associated with infection.