Researcher uncovers how chlamydia sabotages human immunity
Chlamydia pneumoniae is a microbe that normally causes pneumonia and bronchitis,
but it has long been associated with atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease also called “hardening of the arteries.”
“It was a frightening prospect,” says Azenabor, “that atherosclerosis could come from a bacterial infection.” He decided to look for an explanation.
Chlamydiae are unusual, says the Nigerian-born scientist, because, unlike most other bacteria, they use the same form of cholesterol for metabolism that human cells use. Chlamydiae also are intracellular pathogens, meaning that they can only grow and reproduce inside of another cell.
But these bacteria have another peculiar ability.