Comparative transcriptomic profiling of human conjunctival epithelial cells and macrophages in response to Chlamydia trachomatis genovars A and B in early- and mid-infection cycles

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), an obligate intracellular bacterium, is the primary infectious cause of blindness through trachoma. Ct undergoes a unique biphasic developmental cycle between infectious elementary bodies and replicating reticulate bodies, manipulating host cells via secreted effector proteins. Whilst previous studies have characterised host-pathogen interactions including transcriptomes of urogenital Ct genovars E and L2, limited studies exist on ocular Ct genovars. This study examin