The first ever early clinical trial for a vaccine for genital chlamydia has shown it to be safe and effective at provoking an immune response.
The latest findings, from a randomised controlled trial of 35 healthy women led by Imperial College London and the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, demonstrate promising early signs of what could be an effective vaccine against chlamydia.
The infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide and it can lead to infertility.
One of the problems we see is that people get repeatedly re-infected. If you could introduce a protective vaccine, you could break that cycle. Professor Robin Shattock Department of Infectious Disease
The researchers highlight that the work is an ‘important first step’ but add that further trials are now needed to determine whether the immune response provoked by the vaccine will effectively protect against chlamydia infection.
Professor Robin Shattock, Head of Mucosal Infection and Immunity within the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial said: “The findings are encouraging as they show the vaccine is safe and produces the type of immune response that could potentially protect against chlamydia.
“The next step is to take the vaccine forward to further trials, but until that’s done, we won’t know whether it is truly protective or not.”
Most prevalent bacterial STI
Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most prevalent bacterial STIs, representing a major global health burden, with 131 million new cases occurring each year. However, as many as 3 out of 4 infections are symptomless, so the number of cases is likely to be underestimated.
National screening programmes and antibiotic treatment have failed to reduce infection rates, and the highest number of new cases are found in teenagers and young adults.
While infection can often be treated with antibiotics, complications can include inflammation, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, arthritis and even an increased susceptibility to other STIs, including HIV.
“The major issue with chlamydia is the long-term consequences,” explained Professor Shattock. “It is very treatable if identified, but as many people don’t have symptoms it can be missed, and the biggest problem is that it can go on to cause infertility in women.”
He added: “One of the problems we see with current efforts to treat chlamydia is that despite a very big screening, test and treat programme, people get repeatedly re-infected. If you could introduce a protective vaccine, you could break that cycle.”
Encouraging early results
In the latest trial, researchers compared two different formulations of the new vaccine to examine which would perform better. The 35 women not infected with chlamydia included in the trial were randomly assigned to three different groups: 15 participants received the vaccine with liposomes, 15 received the vaccine with aluminium hydroxide, and 5 received saline solution (placebo).
In total, participants received five vaccinations with three intramuscular injections in the arm over several months, followed by two intranasal boosts.
Both formulations of the vaccine provoked an immune response in 100% of participants, whereas no participants in the placebo group achieved an immune response.
Although both formulations of the vaccine were found to provoke an immune response, the added liposomes consistently performed better and produced more antibodies, so the authors suggest this formulation should be pursued for further clinical development.
The full findings are published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The group is now planning phase 2 trials.
UK risks being ‘left behind’
The research was made possible through grants from the European Commission. Professor Shattock raised concerns about the future of such international collaborations and whether UK institutions can maintain their leading role in vaccine research.
“Increasingly vaccine development requires multiple partners,” said Professor Shattock. “We have a wealth of world-leading expertise in the UK, with our scientists working to tackle infections, and to discover and develop new vaccines. But if we are no longer part of that European network we may be left behind.
“It’s not just about the funding, it’s about being part of these larger projects that bring together companies and academics and a much wider portfolio of experience, technology and expertise to solve global health problems.”
Learn more: First vaccine for chlamydia shows promise in early trials
The Latest on: Chlamydia
[google_news title=”” keyword=”chlamydia ” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Chlamydia
- UT Health San Antonio leading $11 million study of oral vaccine for chlamydiaon May 11, 2024 at 6:45 am
The new, U.S. government-funded study will determine if the oral inoculation will also provide immunity from chlamydia in pigs and non-human primates. If that holds up, the team will file an ...
- Older adults are having sex, and they’re getting STIs, tooon May 11, 2024 at 6:13 am
STDs cases are on the rise, not just among young people; Aging adults who have sex with a new partner should be tested for them, too.
- UT Health San Antonio to lead $11 million, NIH-funded study of a first-ever oral chlamydia vaccineon May 9, 2024 at 4:59 pm
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) will direct a team of researchers to investigate a novel oral vaccine for chlamydia, the most reported sexually ...
- Chlamydia, rabies top county's reported diseases in Aprilon May 9, 2024 at 8:00 am
SHERIDAN — Chlamydia was the most reported disease in Sheridan County in April, with a total of six cases reported. There have been a total of 20 chlamydia cases reported in Sheridan County since the ...
- Cases of chlamydia and syphilis are up, other STIs down: health uniton May 5, 2024 at 3:37 pm
Cases of HIV/AIDS is up two from 2022 to 10 in 2023. The report also suggests certain STIs have gone down in recent years but the number of cases remain quite high. There were 117 cases of gonorrhea ...
- Sexually Transmitted Infections Have Surged, and Age Is No Barrieron May 3, 2024 at 7:54 am
Older daters are not getting adequate screening and protection from S.T.I.s. Here’s how to be a safer sexually active senior.
- Can You Get an STD (STI) in Your Eyes? Chlamydia and Moreon April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Research has found that chlamydia can affect the eyes in infants. This condition, known as ophthalmia neonatorum, is transmitted from mother to fetus during childbirth. Chlamydial eye infection ...
- Louisiana ranks no. 1 in U.S. for chlamydia cases, research showson April 17, 2024 at 9:09 am
SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - According to recent data from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Louisiana is number one in the country for cases of chlamydia. That info is from 2022, when the state ...
- Novel Chlamydia Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Trialon April 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Opens in a new tab or window Share on LinkedIn. Opens in a new tab or window An investigational vaccine against chlamydia (CTH522) induced neutralizing antibodies in all participants who received ...
- Chlamydia vaccine triggers immune response in early trialon April 12, 2024 at 6:58 am
A chlamydia vaccine has triggered immune responses in an early trial, raising hopes that one day it might help curb the spread of the sexually transmitted infection (STI). There is currently no ...
via Bing News