Chlamydia pneumoniae is a obligate intracellular bacterium. It is a pathogen of humans, causing pneumonia and bronchitis. The full genome sequence for C. pneumoniae was completed in 1999.

There is evidence associating C. pneumoniae with atherosclerosis and with asthma.

C. pheumoniae is transmitted between humans in respiratory secretions.

References

• Kalman, S et al. 1999. Comparative genomes of Chlamydia pneumoniae and C. trachomatis. Nature Genetics 21:385-389 PMID 10192388
• O'Connor S, et al. Potential Infectious Etiologies of Atherosclerosis: A Multifactorial Perspective. Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol 7, Sept-Oct 2001
• Hahn DL, Dodge RW, Golubjatnikov R. Association of Chlamydia pneumoniae (TWAR) infection with wheezing, asthmatic bronchitis and adult-onset asthma. JAMA 1991,266:225-30.