The Chlamydia trachomatis effector CT226 directly engages LRRFIP1 to recruit a multiprotein complex that limits inclusion size and progeny production.

CT226 effector protein of Chlamydia trachomatis recruits a host multiprotein complex via direct binding, modulating inclusion size and bacterial progeny production.

• Why it matters: Understanding how Chlamydia manipulates host cell processes is crucial for developing interventions against its infections, yet the molecular details of effector-host interactions remain largely unknown.
• What they did: The study used affinity purification-mass spectrometry, structural modeling, and mutational analysis to show that CT226 directly binds LRRFIP1 through its coiled-coil region, recruiting the LFT complex to the inclusion membrane.
• The result: Disrupting the CT226-LRRFIP1 interaction modestly increases inclusion size and infectious progeny, revealing a regulatory role for this effector-host engagement in Chlamydia’s developmental cycle.