Heat shock protein expression and immunity in chlamydial infections

heat shock proteins, Chlamydia trachomatis, immunity eat shock proteins (hsps) are among the most abundant proteins in nature and are highly conserved amongst both eucaryotes and procary- otes.The heat shock response is an important sur- vival mechanism that safeguards the cell or mi- crobe from conditions of stress.The response is triggered transcriptionally and results in the pro- duction of newly synthesized proteins within min- utes of the cell or microbe encountering a stressful environment.Little is known about the specific functions of these hsps, but it is speculated that they may be involved in vital cell functions, such as the assembly and disassembly of macromolecules and intracellular transport, as well as the proteolysis of aberrant or dysfunctional molecules, thus main- taining the cell in a healthy vegetative state.They may also have a role in intracellular antigen pre- sentation and processing, e Some hsps are constitu- tively expressed throughout normal cycles of growth and development, while others are induced under hostile conditions or conditions of stress, such as a change in temperature, pH, oxidative state, conditions of iron or nutrient deprivation, or the presence of enzymes or toxic chemicals. HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASESMicrobes exist in environments that are constantly changing and have evolved mechanisms such as the heat shock response to bring about rapid adaptation to environmental changes.The invasion of