First widely protective vaccine against chlamydia shows early promise

A new widely protective vaccine against the common sexually transmitted infection (STI) chlamydia has been created. Researchers at McMaster University have achieved the first steps towards a successful vaccine, with the recent advance showing promising results. 

Around 113 million people worldwide are affected by chlamydia, which can result in infertility. Researchers at the Michael G. DeGroote Institute at the university have found that a novel chlamydial antigen – BD584 – could be used as a potential vaccine for the most common form of the STI, Chlamydia trachomatis.

This type of the STI is often asymptomatic and so can go untreated. This results in the infection being spread, as well as upper genital tract infections, infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.

David Bulir, co-author of the study, said: "Vaccination would be the best way to way to prevent a chlamydia infection, and this study has identified important new antigens that could be used as part of a vaccine to prevent or eliminate the damaging reproductive consequences of untreated infections."

The study found that BD584 was able to reduce chlamydial shedding by 95 percent, while hydrosalpinx was also cut down on by 87.5 percent.