Conjunctival transcriptome profiling of Solomon Islanders with active trachoma but without ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

The prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) in Solomon Island children aged 1–9 years is high enough to warrant, among other interventions, mass distribution of azithromycin. However, over 90% of those with TF did not have concurrent Chlamydia trachomatis infection. We analysed the transcriptome of children with TF and Ct infection, children diagnosed with TF but no Ct infection and children with neither TF nor Ct infection to better understand host responses during an episode of TF, and investigate whether it can provide any clues about the aetiology of TF in this context. Purified RNA from children with and without active trachoma was run on Affimetrix GeneChip HTA 2.0. Transcriptome profiles were compared between individuals with ocular Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection and trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) (DI group: n=6), individuals with TF but no Ct infection (D group: n=7) and individuals without TF or Ct infection (N group: n=7). Differentially expressed (DE) genes were considered in isolation and also assessed for host response pathway membership.