The Chlamydiaceae are a family of
gram-negative bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial differentiation. They are characterized by their cell envelopes, which are composed of a thin peptidoglycan cell wall ...
that belongs to the phylum
Chlamydiota, order
Chlamydiales. Chlamydiaceae species express the family-specific
lipopolysaccharide epitope
An epitope, also known as antigenic determinant, is the part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, specifically by antibodies, B cells, or T cells. The epitope is the specific piece of the antigen to which an antibody binds. The p ...
αKdo-(2→8)-αKdo-(2→4)-αKdo (previously called the genus-specific epitope). Chlamydiaceae
ribosomal
Ribosomes ( ) are macromolecular machines, found within all cells, that perform biological protein synthesis (mRNA translation). Ribosomes link amino acids together in the order specified by the codons of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules to for ...
RNA genes all have at least 90%
DNA sequence identity. Chlamydiaceae species have varying inclusion morphology, varying extrachromosomal
plasmid content, and varying sulfadiazine resistance.
The family Chlamydiaceae currently includes one genus and one candidate genus: ''
Chlamydia
Chlamydia, or more specifically a chlamydia infection, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium '' Chlamydia trachomatis''. Most people who are infected have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear they may occur only several we ...
'' and ''candidatus
Clavochlamydia''.
''Chlamydia''
Three species belong to ''Chlamydia'':
''C. trachomatis'',
''C. muridarum'', and
''C. suis''. ''C. trachomatis'' has been found only in humans, ''C. muridarum'' in hamsters and mice (family
Muridae), and ''C. suis'' in swine. ''Chlamydia'' species produce a small amount of detectable
glycogen and have two
ribosomal
Ribosomes ( ) are macromolecular machines, found within all cells, that perform biological protein synthesis (mRNA translation). Ribosomes link amino acids together in the order specified by the codons of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules to for ...
operon
In genetics, an operon is a functioning unit of DNA containing a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter. The genes are transcribed together into an mRNA strand and either translated together in the cytoplasm, or undergo splic ...
s.
''Chlamydia trachomatis'' is the cause of an infection commonly
transmitted sexually (often referred as just "Chlamydia") and also is the cause of
trachoma
Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by bacterium '' Chlamydia trachomatis''. The infection causes a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. This roughening can lead to pain in the eyes, breakdown of the outer surface or cornea of ...
, an infectious eye disease, spread by eye, nose, and throat secretions.
Phylogeny
Taxonomy
The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the
List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature
List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) is an online database that maintains information on the nomenclature, naming and Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy of prokaryotes, following the taxonomy requirements and rulings of the In ...
(LPSN)
and
National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
* "''Ca.''
Amphibiichlamydia"
Martel et al. 2012
* ''
Chlamydia
Chlamydia, or more specifically a chlamydia infection, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium '' Chlamydia trachomatis''. Most people who are infected have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear they may occur only several we ...
''
Jones et al. 1945
* "''
Chlamydiifrater''"
Vorimore et al. 2021
* ''
Chlamydophila''
Everett, Bush & Andersen 1999
* "''Ca.''
Medusoplasma"
Viver et al. 2017
See also
*
List of bacterial orders
*
List of bacteria genera
References
{{Authority control
Chlamydiota
Bacteria families