Development Of Novel Vaccine Strategies To Prevent Genital Tract Chlamydial Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,556.00
Summary
Genital tract chlamydial infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease world wide with 4-5 million cases occurring annually throughout the world. The incidence of chlamydial infection is increasing in the Australian population. The majority of infections in women are asymptomatic and, if untreated, go on to cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. These conditions can be life threatening and are a significant public health cost. In the proposal ....Genital tract chlamydial infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease world wide with 4-5 million cases occurring annually throughout the world. The incidence of chlamydial infection is increasing in the Australian population. The majority of infections in women are asymptomatic and, if untreated, go on to cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. These conditions can be life threatening and are a significant public health cost. In the proposal we will develop novel vaccine strategies, involving both intranasal immunisation and immunisation by direct application to the skin, to induce protection against genital tract chlamydial infection. These studies will lay the basis for human trials of a vaccine to prevent what is now the most common STD in Australia. Such a vaccine to target this chronic infection would represent a major advance in preventive healthcare for the maintenance of good health.Read moreRead less
Innate Immunity And Chlamydia Infection: Bacterial:epithelial Cell Cross-talk At The Mucosal Surface.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$593,340.00
Summary
Chlamydial infections are the most common sexually transmitted disease in Australia. Infection induces short term immunity that is only partially protective. Furthermore, in many infected individuals the immune response causes inflammation of the fallopian tubes leading to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. In these individuals the initial chlamydial infection may not be cleared and a chronic infection may develop that can be reactivated, perhaps many times, contribu ....Chlamydial infections are the most common sexually transmitted disease in Australia. Infection induces short term immunity that is only partially protective. Furthermore, in many infected individuals the immune response causes inflammation of the fallopian tubes leading to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility. In these individuals the initial chlamydial infection may not be cleared and a chronic infection may develop that can be reactivated, perhaps many times, contributing to the ongoing inflammatory response. Evidence from in vitro studies suggests that antibiotics routinely used to treat Chlamydia infection may actually contribute to the development of chronic infection. The stage of menstrual cycle at the time of exposure and oral contraceptive use can also influence susceptibility to infection suggesting that sex hormones influence infection outcomes. The innate or early immune response to infection by reproductive tract epithelial cells, the target cells of chlamydial infection, is believed to initiate the pro-inflammatory immune responses that will develop in some individuals following primary infection, however very little is known regarding this early epithelial cell immune response. In the proposed studies we will use reproductive tract epithelial cell lines, freshly isolated epithelial cells and cervical biopsy explant cultures to define this early innate immune response to chlamydial infection. Using gene-profiling techniques we will identify the types of innate immune response that predispose to long-term inflammatory sequelae. Gene-profiling techniques will also be used to determine why chronic chlamydial infections develop in some individuals and whether antibiotics influence this. Our ultimate aim is to be able to predict which infected individuals are likely to develop long term inflammatory disease and may therefore need more intensive antibiotic therapy or treatments such as therapeutic vaccination.Read moreRead less