Comparative analysis of the growth and biological activity of a respiratory and atheroma isolate of Chlamydia pneumoniae reveals strain-dependent differences in inflammatory activity and innate immune evasion.

Background Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common human pathogen that is associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections. It has also been suggested that C. pneumoniae infection can trigger or promote a number of chronic inflammatory conditions, including asthma and atherosclerosis. Several strains of C. pneumoniae have been isolated from humans and animals, and sequence data demonstrates marked genetic conservation, leaving unanswered the question as to why chronic inflammatory conditions may occur following some respiratory-acquired infections.