Evidence for a post-invasion role of the Chlamydia trachomatis type III secreted effector TmeA in acquisition of host plasma membrane-derived material

This study investigated how the Chlamydia effector protein TmeA facilitates intracellular growth. Using the lipophilic tracer DiI, we showed that TmeA directs plasma membrane-derived material to chlamydial inclusions through actin polymerization and interaction with N-WASP, in a pathway distinct from sphingomyelin delivery. The findings reveal that Chlamydia repurposes TmeA to exploit host plasma membrane resources, highlighting a novel mechanism by which type III secreted effectors support intracellular development and pathogen replication.