August 21, 2019
Following the success of the HPV vaccine, researchers have been looking for other sexually transmitted infections that may be prevented with vaccines. An international team of researchers have been working on a vaccine for chlamydia, which has now passed Phase 1 of its clinical trial.
Chlamydia is a difficult disease to detect and therefore treat, as often people with the infection show no symptoms. Even if individuals have no overt symptoms, chlamydia can be causing long term damage, so finding an effective way to prevent the spread of the infection is essential.
While the all-female test group for the vaccine was small, the study showed great promise. The two variants of the vaccine being tested both included a genetically engineered version of a protein found on the surface of the chlamydia bacteria. The recipients of the vaccine showed an immune response, including elevated levels of antibodies against chlamydia in their blood and genital tracts.
One of the vaccine variants appeared to be more successful than the other, producing six times more antibodies in the recipients, so will proceed to a Phase 2 trial. If successful we may one day may have the option to vaccinate against this infectious disease that affects millions every year.
Source: News Medical
Read more: http://ow.ly/Wwsy50vCxgE
